An upcoming HBO documentary, Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery, is reigniting speculation about the true identity of Bitcoin’s elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Directed by Cullen Hoback and executive produced by The Big Short director Adam McKay, the film delves into the ongoing mystery of who invented Bitcoin, whether they acted alone, and the profound economic impact of their creation. The film has sparked excitement across the crypto community, especially on Crypto Twitter, where rumors are swirling over who the documentary might identify as the person behind the pseudonym.
The documentary trailer features Adam Back, a British cypherpunk and cryptographer who was among the first to correspond with Satoshi via email in 2009. Although Back has long been suspected as a candidate for Nakamoto’s true identity, he has repeatedly denied creating Bitcoin. Recent publicized emails between him and Satoshi seem to back up this denial.
As the release date nears, speculation continues to mount. Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy Digital, tweeted that he’s heard the documentary might point to Len Sassaman, an American cryptographer involved in the cypherpunk community where Satoshi first announced Bitcoin. Sassaman, who tragically took his own life in 2011, has long been considered a possible Satoshi candidate.
Beyond the question of identity, there’s another concern: Satoshi’s Bitcoin stash. Wallets believed to be controlled by Nakamoto hold around 1.1 million BTC—worth nearly $67 billion at current prices. These coins have remained untouched since Bitcoin’s early days, but if the documentary were to suggest that Satoshi is still alive, it could potentially cause panic in the market, raising fears about the control of such a large portion of the Bitcoin supply.
Will the documentary finally unmask Satoshi Nakamoto, or will the mystery persist? Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery is set to stream on Max starting October 8, leaving crypto enthusiasts and skeptics alike eager for answers.