The Bitcoinverse is currently in full swing as HBO prepares to broadcast his documentary“Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery,” which claims to reveal the true identity of Bitcoin’s elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. The feature film is scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, October 8, 2024 at 2 a.m. CET (Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST).
Directed by Emmy nominee Cullen Hoback, known for his investigative prowess in the critically acclaimed series “Q: Into the Storm,” the documentary aims to take viewers on a thrilling journey into the origins of Bitcoin. Hoback’s previous work successfully unmasked the architects behind the QAnon conspiracy theory, raising hopes that he might indeed have the investigative skills needed to tackle the Satoshi Nakamoto enigma.
In a tantalizing teaser posted on X, Hoback wrote: “Some of you may have wondered why I disappeared. Well, I was looking for someone else who was missing. Curious to know who is behind Bitcoin? #MoneyElectric: The Bitcoin mystery falls next Tuesday. This is going to be a roller coaster.
Who will HBO feature as the inventor of Bitcoin?
The statement sparked speculation on social media platforms, with many wondering whether Hoback actually discovered the identity of the person – or group – behind the Satoshi Nakamoto alias. Despite the enthusiasm, the BTC community remains largely skeptical.
Pierre, a highly respected crypto analyst, voiced his doubts via Dennis Porter, CEO and co-founder of the Satoshi Act Fund, echoed similar sentiments: “HBO has not discovered Satoshi’s identity. Great trailer though.
Max Keisera prominent Bitcoin advocate and early adopter, categorically rejected the documentary’s claims: “SPOILER ALERT. No, they don’t. This is a repeat of the Bitcoin stupidity circa 2016.”
The documentary also attracted comments from podcaster and cryptography expert Peter McCormack, who underlines the ethical implications of unmasking Satoshi: “Satoshi gave the world a profound gift with Bitcoin, but deliberately chose to remain anonymous – a decision that must be respected. Efforts to unmask them are not only irresponsible, but potentially dangerous. »
It should be noted that not all reactions have been negative. Samson Mow, CEO of JAN3 and participant in the documentary alongside Cypherpunk and early Bitcoin supporter Adam Back, highlighted the potential positive impact of the film: “HBO has around 100 million subscribers who now have the chance to learn more about #itcoin. Regardless of #MoneyElectric’s response to the Satoshi “mystery”, having Bitcoin up there with Game of Thrones and Sopranos is a great orange pill opportunity.
The plotline has given rise to a flurry of speculation about who the documentary might point to as Satoshi. Furkan Yildirim, a popular German crypto YouTuber, offered his own theory: “Wild claim: HBO thinks it knows who Satoshi Nakamoto is. (…) Who or what do you think they are presenting? My crystal ball bullshit prediction: something to do with China or Russia.
However, Polymarket punters think differently. Their top pick is Len Sassaman with 45% of all votes at the time of publication.
The mystery of Satoshi Nakamoto has aroused fascination since the advent of Bitcoin. white paper was published in 2008. Among the most frequently speculated candidates are Hal Finney, a renowned cryptographer and the first person besides Satoshi to use BTC, a computer scientist. Nick Szabo and the inventor of Hashcash, Adam Back. All of them denied being Satoshi.
Notably, Finney already died on August 28, 2014 and can no longer respond. After new Satoshi emails emerged in the Craig Wright case, Adam Cochran, partner at CEHV, speculated in February of this year: “I always thought Hal Finney was the main character behind Satoshi Nakamoto (supported by one or two other minor characters). And I think the new emails go a long way to confirming that.
At press time, BTC was trading at $61,550.
Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com