Aussie Bloke Outs Himself As Bitcoin’s Secretive, Super-Loaded Creator

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Published

May 2, 2016

To the casual observer – ie, anyone who doesn’t have a room full of loosely connected computer bits ‘mining’ Bitcoins – the cryptocurrency does seem a bit mysterious.

Sure, you can use ’em to buy a frothy in Sydney, and until recently, you could spend them on all manner of hyper-illegal shit elsewhere, but the whole intangible nature of the purely-electronic money substitute makes Bitcoin somewhat difficult to fathom.

But not impossible to fathom. If you’re interested, there are plenty of resources available on how the incredibly innovative system works. Until tonight though, there weren’t any definite leads on who made it work, and that was always the truly mysterious bit.

Welp, the legendary Satoshi Nakamoto, who was the first person to initiate a transaction with Bitcoin, is supposedly an Australian bloke named Craig Wright.

Australian Craig Wright identifies himself as #Bitcoin creator, ending years of speculation https://t.co/j0oyKzVVgk https://t.co/e6pRRIpCCy

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) May 2, 2016

Speaking with the BBC, Wright – an entrepreneur and computer scientist – apparently proved he was Bitcoin’s originator by signing a message with a ‘key’ linked to the first coins ‘Satoshi’ mined.

He said “I have not [come out as Nakamoto] because it is what I wanted. It’s not because of my choice.

I want to work, I want to keep doing what I want to do.

I don’t want money. I don’t want fame. I don’t want adoration. I just want to be left alone.”

If you’re wondering why exactly it’s so important Nakamoto gets identified, it’s worth mentioning he’s sitting on an estimated US $450M worth of Bitcoin.

The ATO is certainly interested – they raided Wright’ home last year after rampant speculation, and now he claims his lawyers are discussing the figures with the Feds.

Some sources remain skeptical. Some even claim the key he demonstrated isn’t enough to demonstrate he’s the dude. If he is, though? One of the most important technological innovators of the past decade has been sitting right under our bloody noses.

Source: BBC.
Photo: Thomas Trutschel / Getty.