A newly released HBO movie titled Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery has ignited controversy by alleging that Canadian cryptography expert Peter Todd is Satoshi Nakamoto—the mysterious creator of Bitcoin
Footage in the documentary and various sources suggest that Todd has previously made sarcastic comments about being Satoshi, which may have fueled the speculation. Despite this, Todd has consistently denied the claims.
After the film came out, Todd has retreated from public life, saying he fears for his personal safety.
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In a recent interview with Wired, Todd pointed out the dangers of being falsely portrayed as extraordinarily rich, stating that such misrepresentation can lead to threats of robbery or even kidnapping. He added:
Satoshi obviously didn't want to be found, for good reasons, and no one should help people trying to find Satoshi.
Todd insists that he only agreed to participate in the project believing it would focus on Bitcoin's history, not serve as an investigative piece aiming to expose its creator. He also criticized filmmaker Cullen Hoback for using questionable evidence to support the film's conclusions.
Hoback, however, downplays Todd's concerns, assuring that any danger has been overstated. He further argues that uncovering Nakamoto's identity is important due to the significant control that person could hold over the crypto market.
Despite the film's claims, many in the crypto community remain unconvinced, leaving the mystery of Bitcoin's true creator unresolved.
In other news, James Howells, a British IT engineer, is suing Newport City Council for $647 million over a hard drive with 8,000 Bitcoin that he accidentally threw away in 2013.
