XRP Architect Comments on BTC Creator Satoshi Nakamoto

In a recent conversation on X (formerly Twitter), David Schwartz, the CTO and one of the principal architects behind XRP Ledger, tackled ongoing speculation regarding his connection to the enigmatic creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto.

The subject arose from a new HBO documentary titled “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery,” which presents a theory that Satoshi, the pseudonymous founder of Bitcoin, is likely Canadian software developer Peter Todd. This 100-minute film, released on Tuesday, features interviews with early Bitcoin figures, including prominent contenders for Satoshi’s identity like Adam Back, investor Roger Ver, Samson Mow, and Todd himself.

In response to the documentary, an X user questioned Schwartz directly, asking why he wasn’t mentioned, given his connections with important figures in Bitcoin’s inception. Schwartz clarified, “Not really, I didn’t get involved until mid-2011.”

When speculation about him being Satoshi emerged in 2020, Schwartz acknowledged that while it was conceivable for someone to think he was a part of Bitcoin’s creation, he was not. He noted that he could have been involved with a group dubbed “Satoshi,” which contributed to Bitcoin’s development, but emphasized that his personal introduction to the cryptocurrency occurred later, in 2011.

The true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains elusive. The Bitcoin whitepaper was published in 2008, and the network was launched in 2009. Since then, debates have flourished about whether Satoshi is an individual or a collective. Numerous theories have circulated, often pointing to various potential candidates.

Though Satoshi Nakamoto has not been publicly active since 2011, their significance persists. The wallets attributed to Satoshi hold approximately one million Bitcoin, valued at over $62.4 billion at current rates.

Cullen Hoback, the creator of the HBO documentary, suggested that Peter Todd could be Satoshi based on circumstantial evidence, including historical forum posts. Todd, however, has firmly denied this claim.