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Satoshi Nakamoto Found? Not So Fast

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the cryptoidentity-crisis dept.

Yesterday, Newsweek outed the creator of Bitcoin. Or did they? An anonymous reader tipped us to news that the account on p2pfoundation that posted the original Bitcoin paper, posted for the first time in five years simply noting "I am not Dorian Nakamoto." And the Satoshi Nakamto Newsweek claims was the creator? In an interview with the AP, he claims to have only learned of Bitcoin recently, and that his comments were taken far out of context. From the article: "He also said a key portion of the piece — where he is quoted telling the reporter on his doorstep before two police officers, 'I am no longer involved in that and I cannot discuss it' — was misunderstood. Nakamoto said he is a native of Beppu, Japan who came to the U.S. as a child in 1959. He speaks both English and Japanese, but his English isn't flawless. ... 'I'm saying I'm no longer in engineering. That's it,' he said of the exchange. 'And even if I was, when we get hired, you have to sign this document, contract saying you will not reveal anything we divulge during and after employment. So that's what I implied. ... It sounded like I was involved before with bitcoin and looked like I'm not involved now. That's not what I meant. I want to clarify that,' he said.

Newsweek writer Leah McGrath Goodman, who spent two months researching the story, told the AP: 'I stand completely by my exchange with Mr. Nakamoto. There was no confusion whatsoever about the context of our conversation -and his acknowledgment of his involvement in bitcoin.'"

182 comments

  1. Bitcoin: I am not money by selectspec · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Doesn't matter what is true, its what people believe.

    --

    Someone you trust is one of us.

  2. Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Let's have a third discussion on the same thing, and re-hash the same arguments! Excellent.

    Also, editors, "This Day on Slashdot" has been broken for like a week.

    1. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      So has the HardOCP window, for months.

    2. Re:Really? by interkin3tic · · Score: 5, Funny

      The real inventor was Keyser Soze!!!

      (Credit: Patent Lover )

    3. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      "The real inventor was Keyser Soze!!!"
      That's the name I use on one of my e-mail accounts, and I can assure you it's not me!

    4. Re:Really? by TangoMargarine · · Score: 2

      This just in: Satoshi Nakamoto, the famous Japanese man, was recently discovered to have changed his name from Momomoto, and can thus swallow his own nose.

      In other news, Leah McGrath Goodman is actually a cabbage.

      Hail Eris! :)

      --
      Unity? Screw that: XFCE. Slashdot Beta? Screw that: SoylentNews. Australis? Screw that: Pale Moon. UX developers DIAF
    5. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let's have a third discussion on the same thing, and re-hash the same arguments! Excellent.

      What do you think proof-of-work is all about? :)

    6. Re:Really? by idontgno · · Score: 1

      This just in: Satoshi Nakamoto, the famous Japanese man, was recently discovered to have changed his name from Momomoto, and can thus swallow his own nose.

      Ridiculous, incredible, too far gone to ever be believed.

      In other news, Leah McGrath Goodman is actually a cabbage.

      OK, this I could believe.

      --
      Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
    7. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, excellent, we have Beta, but the existing functionality is breaking down. (And they don't even work in Beta, I checked.)

    8. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Surely you mean Mr. Kobayashi?

  3. Lack of privacy knowledge by fishybell · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If it is the Satoshi Nakamoto, there is a pattern: a complete lack of the understanding of how personal privacy works on the internet.

    1. He uses his own name, or at least a variation on it, when he created bitcoin.
    2. He outs himself assuming he'd still maintain privacy because he's no longer "involved."

    The fact that he's fairly old adds to the evidence. If he were in his mid 20s he'd never have used his real name or outted himself because he'd understand how privacy works (or rather, doesn't work) with respect to the internet.

    --
    ><));>
    1. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by iluvcapra · · Score: 2

      There's some variation on the "Only old people in Korea..." Slashdot meme in this.

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Baltar.
    2. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      So you are saying that it makes sense that he is the guy who created bitcoin because he A) doesn't understand how the internet works and B) doesn't understand privacy...

    3. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by squiggleslash · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The original Bitcoin paper claims that the currency described by the protocol is "anonymous" ("Participants can be anonymous") yet it's a protocol where every transaction is logged. Can't get much less anonymous than that. So yeah, while it's unlikely this is the Mr Bitcoin Nakamoto, if it were the lack of understanding of personal privacy would fit in at all levels.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    4. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You don't quite understand what "anonymous" means, do you? Every transaction is logged, but what gets logged is only a record of which wallet transferred funds to another wallet. At no point in that chain does it say "squiggleslash gave a bitcoin to Darlene the Hooker for services rendered."

      That is anonymous.

    5. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      "If he were in his mid 20s he'd never have used his real name or outted himself because he'd understand how privacy works (or rather, doesn't work) with respect to the internet."

      Says the dumbshit who has an email address publicly displayed right next to his username

    6. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's pseudonymous, it's up to you to decide if you want to use that feature or not. So the answer is both, it's anonymous if you take the effort and not anonymous if you don't. That's what "Participants can be anonymous" means.

    7. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      No, that's pseudonymous.

    8. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      If he were in his mid 20s he would have posted the whitepaper on his facebook next to photos of him vomiting copiously, and other such treasures.

    9. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fishybell is 97, you insensitive whippersnapper!

    10. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by skipkent · · Score: 1

      Ah well, at least beta solves that problem!

    11. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Daniel+Dvorkin · · Score: 1

      If he were in his mid 20s he'd never have used his real name or outted himself because he'd understand how privacy works (or rather, doesn't work) with respect to the internet.

      In my mid-40s, and having been active online since my teens, I understand that using a pseudonym is no guarantee of privacy.

      --
      The correlation between ignorance of statistics and using "correlation is not causation" as an argument is close to 1.
    12. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by squiggleslash · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think both you and the sibling poster, quibblings about "pseudonymous" aside, both make the same mistake "Hypothetical Nakamoto" make, namely a failure to understand what privacy means when the Internet gets involved.

      Transactions in Bitcoindom are logged, and effectively logged eternally (how easily this can scale is open to question, Bitcoin's advocates argue the blockchain can be truncated at some point, but it isn't right now and I suspect there's a lot of agreement that will have to go on to make that happen.) The logging is public - anyone can read it. From the Blockchain, you - and everyone else - can determine every single transaction that's affected a specific coin or a specific wallet. To actively isolate transactions from a wallet you'd have to do an enormous amount of work and receive help from a third party that's laundering transactions for so many people it's close to impossible to link them, and, of course, that third party would know what you're up to.

      Does this mean you can tell that "squiggleslash" spent 0.1BTC on coke, hookers, and gambling last week? That depends. Without the laundering service, it's relatively easy to tell that someone who's your customer (or your employee...) did that. And as more and more information leaks from you about you and your wallet, more and more information becomes available as to what you're doing.

      By comparison, whenever Google logs what you're doing, most people here are up in arms. But the funny thing is that Google doesn't publish logs of every single browser's history to the Internet. It keeps that information to itself. So for most of us, Google invading our privacy means a handful of Google employees might be able to do the research.

      The Blockchain, however, is public.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    13. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by fishybell · · Score: 1

      Feel free to send an e-mail there as well. It will end up in the blackhole that is my junk address.

      --
      ><));>
    14. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by lgw · · Score: 2

      Right - the protocol only fails for anonymity when someone can log the IP addresses associated with every bitcoin transaction ever, and get the physical address associated with every IP address. So, yeah, here on Earth it's not anonymous, but it looks great on a whiteboard.

      If you keep logs, you out your users when the government gets the logs - that's hardly news. And bitcoin "keeping logs" is fundamental to the protocol. It's still a neat protocol, and it's probably easier to anonymize (or steal) an IP address than a credit card, but don't think you're hidden from the NSA by the power of bitcoin.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    15. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Punk.

    16. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anonymity doesn't exist because there's a chance someone could identify you.

      Privacy doesn't exist because the government could install surveillance equipment in every possible private location you could visit.

      See the problem? Just because it's possible to identify someone with enough resources doesn't mean it's not anonymous.

    17. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Scragglykat · · Score: 1

      He would have posted a video of himself creating bitcoin on YouTube instead... we all know that's what 20 year olds do these days when they do something that nobody should know about.

    18. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Ralph+Wiggam · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If he were in his mid 20s he'd never have used his real name or outted himself because he'd understand how privacy works

      That's the part of this Newsweek story that makes no sense. The Bitcoin Satoshi took his privacy pretty seriously. People have been over and over his public and private communications over a couple years- and gleaned virtually no private information. Nobody could even agree on what country he lived in. And it's not a case where he created the account/identity when he didn't care about privacy and then did the bitcoin thing. That identity shows up on the internet specifically to reveal the bitcoin protocol. It doesn't fit at all that he would use his full first and last birth name as his username. People do weird stuff, and this Dorian guy seems like a fairly odd bird (but aren't all engineers?). It's not impossible, but it just doesn't fit the rest of the story.

    19. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by osu-neko · · Score: 2

      By that absurd definition, anonymous posts aren't anonymous because they are posted, anonymous letters aren't anonymous because they're printed, etc. You fundamentally fail at understanding what "anonymous" means if you think being logged makes it not anonymous. What makes anonymous things anonymous is not the fact that they're not recorded, because indeed they all are, and have been for the thousands of years of anonymous writing/deeds/etc. What unites all the things we've described as "anonymous" for millennia is that what isn't recorded alongside the various things that are is the author's name.

      --
      "Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies."
    20. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by osu-neko · · Score: 2

      Understanding of basic vocabulary seems to have gone out the window today.

      anonymous: without a name attached to the work/deed/etc. cf. greek/latin "an-" (without) prefix and "onym" (name)

      pseudonymous: with a false name attached. cf. greek/latin "pseudo-" (false)

      What's being described here is not pseudonymous, unless a note is being attached to each transaction saying "This transaction was made by Mark Twain" (assuming the actual person conducting the transaction isn't actually named Mark Twain).

      --
      "Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies."
    21. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unless I have a record of a transaction with squiggleslash's wallet that associates his name. Let's say he buys internet service from me and pays in Bitcoins, while also giving me his name and address.

      Then I aggregate that with data from another vendor, that happens to include a record where Darlene paid for her cell phone with Bitcoins.

      Only the large 'banks' that shuffle coins around can avoid this; people who keep their own coins in their own wallets will have problems.

    22. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Throw in the FBI tor sites, and BAMMO it is designed to present to a grand jury (of likewize technologically illiterate folk)

    23. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by xeio87 · · Score: 1

      In this particular case, the wallet address is the pseudonym.

      Anonymous would require that there's no way to tell where an individual transaction came from or went to (obviously, this is technically infeasible, given we want to also be able to validate).

    24. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      That is absurd. Just because everything is logged does not in any way make it less anonymous.

      Posting as an AC. Now that we've got that behind us, prove to me you know who I am and what my actual Slashdot account is. DICE probably can if they look at the IP logs but can you?

      The only way I would have a lack of understanding is if I signed this post with my name.

      -thegarbz

    25. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      do not be so ridiculous! it is just a stupid name.. and now every fucking body talking about.. it becames a new fucking meme! and really "all" nakamotos around the world will suffer from this burden now!

    26. Re: Lack of privacy knowledge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Touché

    27. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      Congratulations. You're the fourth (fifth, if we count hypothetical Nakamoto) person (maybe more, if we assume the moderators currently modding me back down also share the same misconception) who seems to have no understanding of how the Internet works and what the effect is has on privacy.

      You are correct that logging, by itself, makes no difference. But logging is one of the key components of Bitcoin that destroys the ability to be genuinely anonymous on it. For more details, I suggest you read the response I made to the second of your sibling posts. But essentially, to re-iterate, the more you use a wallet, the more information "leaks" about you because the logging exists, is public, and will, from time to time, involve you making transactions with people who know you. Without the use of an extremely trustworthy Bitcoin laundering service, it will be the case that ultimately any well connected retailer or employer can find out what you've been spending your money on.

      Comparing it to posting AC on Slashdot is inane and absurd. Indeed, even posting under a pseudonym on Slashdot, as I do, grants me more privacy than my attempting to use Bitcoin to buy both Samizdat and food.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    28. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      No I'm aware of how it works, you just don't seem to understand what the word anonymous actually means. Here's a hint: stop using the word privacy when talking about anonymity, they are NOT related.

      Please do tell me how posting under a pseudonym with a traceable record on slashdot makes you more anonymous that an entry in a ledger saying *indescipherable text* transfered* 0.05BTC to *indescipherable text*

      The fact that you can track and follow anonymous transactions does not make them any less anonymous. It makes them public.
      The fact that I can take a letter write with my cash saying: "Chris, $10 thanks for the coffee" and give it directly to the recipient means it's private but not at all anonymous.

      Stop confusing the two.

    29. Re:Lack of privacy knowledge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The original Bitcoin paper claims that the currency described by the protocol is "anonymous" ("Participants can be anonymous") yet it's a protocol where every transaction is logged. Can't get much less anonymous than that. So yeah, while it's unlikely this is the Mr Bitcoin Nakamoto, if it were the lack of understanding of personal privacy would fit in at all levels.

      Seriously, look up the word anonymous. Observing something is not the same as knowing it's name.

  4. Sue? by Guspaz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I feel bad for the guy. Even though I'm Canadian, this seems like the kind of thing you should sue over (publishing all your private info on the cover story of newsweek when the entire premise of the article is false). Does he have any grounds to sue Newsweek or the reporter who stalked and exposed him?

    1. Re:Sue? by epiccollision · · Score: 1

      you probably would have a case if something was intentionally misrepresented by the author(Tailhook), or the fact checking failed upon review due to negligence(stephen glass)...if you truly believe something is true and you can present the case to a judge that the material you gathered pointed to this person being who the evidence says he is. You'd have a difficult position to sue for any damages as a result...a retraction is about all you'd be entitled to.

    2. Re:Sue? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      An eye for an eye. Publicly post Leah McGrath Goodman's home address, phone number, names of her family and their address, license plate number, etc.

    3. Re:Sue? by swb · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think basically Newsweek would claim "we did all this research and a lot of points to this guy as being the guy. Our news story doesn't say "this guy is the guy, our news story lays out the evidence and says we think this is the guy based on this evidence."

      Fair? Maybe not, but I'm guessing the newspaper's free speech rights cover their ability to investigate and speculate as long as they are clear about the fact that they are indeed speculating. It's a question of ethics and credibility as to whether the evidence is of enough quantity and quality that they should publish a news story speculating.

    4. Re:Sue? by wisnoskij · · Score: 1

      Which brings up the question is it slander/libel when the things told about you are not specifically reputation ruining, just generally wrong.

      --
      Troll is not a replacement for I disagree.
    5. Re:Sue? by Desler · · Score: 1

      What private info? Outside of info from his family the rest of the info is in the public record.

    6. Re:Sue? by Desler · · Score: 1

      Not without malicious intent.

    7. Re:Sue? by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 1

      Which brings up the question is it slander/libel when the things told about you are not specifically reputation ruining, just generally wrong.

      If it were, most journalists would be in a world of hurt. If the subject is not harmed and the things told about them are based on good faith and some research, and you are a journalist or person in position of power, any such suit would be rejected.

      This is due to the fact that pretty much all news reporting that goes beyond reporting the bare facts (and even some of that) is generally wrong. News reporting is about telling an interesting story, so the narrative is often "embellished" to make it more interesting to the readers.

      I've had a fair bit written about me in newspapers, and the only bits that have been fully correct were in tables of statistics (which never make the main spread). The other stuff? Nothing precisely wrong about most of it, but it always implied things that were definitely not the case. This is not usually due to the person doing the initial reporting -- it's due to the fact that between their investigative journalism and publication, there's a gantlet of editors, ad holes, general editors, etc. to run through that reshape the story to fit the target space. None of these added factors know anything about the original situation other than what they hear from the initial journalist or read in the copy. Every piece of "news" published has already run a game of telephone, even if the person who was #2 in the chain still has to sign off on what's published at the end.

    8. Re:Sue? by SystematicPsycho · · Score: 1

      It's easier to understand why people do things when you stand back and look at people's motives and the motives 90%+ of the times are who stands to gain what.

      Newsweek wanted a huge story for their brand new print edition, the journalist was investigating alleged Satoshi for months, bitcoin was the flavour of the week. Of course they were going to run with the story true or false. This story is on the front cover of the print edition. The alleged Satoshi just got used to make Newsweek big, that's what journalists do right, sacrifice people.

      --
      Analytic & algebraic topology of locally Euclidean meterization of infinitely differentiable Riemmanian manifold
    9. Re:Sue? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think this story is not so much about Bitcoin, or the guy, but Newsweek is trying to recover, and needed something big. Now everyone that talks about this is talking about Newsweek. Not bad for whatever PR person came up with it. :golf clap:

    10. Re:Sue? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      News reporting is about telling an interesting story, so the narrative is often "embellished" to make it more interesting to the readers.

      Hmm, no. News reporting should always be about reporting facts. What you described is called "fiction".

    11. Re:Sue? by schnell · · Score: 2

      Which brings up the question is it slander/libel when the things told about you are not specifically reputation ruining, just generally wrong.

      In the US, at least, there are different rules for people based on whether they are "public figures" or not. Libel (for the record, slander applies to something you say; libel applies to something you print) laws generally say that if you are Joe/Jane Average, you can successfully sue someone for saying something wrong about you. If that wrong thing caused you harm, you can win monetary or other damages. If you are someone who is already "in the public eye" then in order to successfully sue for libel you must also prove that the publication knowingly printed false information about you.

      This is why, for example, Richard Jewell was able to successfully sue the Atlanta Journal-Constitution when they incorrectly accused him of being the Olympic Bomber: they were wrong, he was a private shmoe, so the barrier of proof was just being wrong. It is also why Tom Cruise couldn't win against that German gossip rag that said he was gay: it was incorrect(?) but he couldn't prove that it was printed while the newspaper knew (or reasonably should have known) it was false. It's set up this way because there would be a major chilling effect on public discourse if, for example, a newspaper could be sued for reporting today on allegations of corruption by an official that seem credible but are ultimately proven false tomorrow.

      Should he decide to sue, Nakamoto could probably make a good case that he is a private citizen rather than a public figure. Assuming, of course, that all this turns out not to be true in the first place, which is still very open to debate.

      --
      "95% of all Slashdot .sig quotes are incorrect or completely fabricated." -Benjamin Franklin
    12. Re:Sue? by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 1

      News reporting is about telling an interesting story, so the narrative is often "embellished" to make it more interesting to the readers.

      Hmm, no. News reporting should always be about reporting facts. What you described is called "fiction".

      Sadly, it's both, depending on who is talking. "News" no longer (did it ever?) refers to "new facts" but now refers to "new information" which has hopefully been fact-checked in the bits that can be tied down, but is anything but factual in the way it is presented.

      For example: "Fires in electric vehicles triple in one year" vs "Electric vehicles: are they fire traps?" vs "Only three electric vehicles involved in fires in past year" vs "Ratio of ICE to EV fires is still proportionally 3000:1"

      All of the above may be true (and all but one factual), but the implications are significantly different.

    13. Re:Sue? by capebretonsux · · Score: 1

      I have no idea if he could sue or not, but if this indeed the guy, the $400 million worth of bitcoin he's rumored to have could buy all sorts of retribution!

    14. Re:Sue? by ADRA · · Score: 1

      It has to be false to sue, and even if it was false, the falsehoods have to be presented as a fact (not a supposition) in order to be a successful law suit. All of which would likely cause more headlines before being resolved. Plus, if it was the real whomever/whatever, it is of complete non-starter unless there was actual continual harassment, which doesn't seem to be the case.

      --
      Bye!
  5. Who cares... by QuietLagoon · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ... who originated bitcoin? Is this all newsweek can come up with for news nowadays?

    1. Re:Who cares... by i+kan+reed · · Score: 4, Funny

      Nope, their front page also has an article about an app for your phone that provides cookie recipes. Is there no depth their reporters won't provide on an important story?

    2. Re:Who cares... by Virtucon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Considering the news stories lately of MtGox and other exchanges failing or reporting thefts, it's newsworthy. More newsworthy than any Kardashi-West BS that graces the headlines constantly.

      Given that peoples' attention spans are so short, this will blow over for the guy in a couple of weeks and everybody will focus on more important things like the new Cold War and for the EU and Ukraine the Russians will literally make it cold for them.

      --
      Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
    3. Re:Who cares... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not only that, but they did investigative work to "cause" news and announce "bitcoin creator found". If they want to go that route, they should do something worthwhile like researching cancer to be the first to announce "cancer cured".

    4. Re:Who cares... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was surprised to learn that people still read Newsweek (and that it still exists).

    5. Re:Who cares... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is one of the most interesting and amusing stories I've heard in awhile. It gets more and more twisted every hour.

    6. Re:Who cares... by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      It matters as much as finding out that the person behind Groklaw was Pam Jones. As much as finding out about the life of Howard Hughes when he went into hiding. And as much as finding out who Banksy is.

      It's not at all important, but it is interesting. But unfortunately people's interest is satisfied only at the cost of the privacy of the person who wants to remain hidden.

  6. But it's so simple. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wouldn't it be to his advantage to not deny it, and let people focus all of their attention on the wrong guy? Perhaps knowing that we will realize this, he's only saying it so that we will doubt he is in fact him. But, also recognizing that, he knows that I will now be writing this comment on Slashdot. And in the end, we still don't know anything.

    1. Re:But it's so simple. by Aerokii · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Possibly- but the more I think about it, the more I can see why the creator would make such a post if it isn't him. Based on discussions yesterday, there's good reason to believe the creator's sitting on millions upon millions of USD worth of bitcoins. If people were to assume the gentleman "outed" in Newsweek had such funding available to him, that might put him in danger.

      So, rather than put someone in danger who has nothing to do with this situation, the creator makes this post. I think it seems logical, but that's just a theory.

    2. Re:But it's so simple. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The word you should use is "speculation", not "theory". If you had a testable methodology then "hypothesis" would fit.

      I don't mean to be a vocab Nazi but the word "theory" has been been abused way too much recently.

    3. Re:But it's so simple. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're assuming the creator cares about others. What if he doesn't? Someone kills the wrong guy, and that's even better for him since he no longer exists.

    4. Re:But it's so simple. by Aerokii · · Score: 1

      Fair point, I'll try to keep that in mind for the future. Thanks!

  7. Re:Bitcoin: I am not money by the_humeister · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's all about truthiness.

  8. wants to remain anonymous let him by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If the creator wants to remain anonymous, let him.

    Newsweek needs to fire Leah McGrath Goodman and her editor for violating an individual's privacy. This isn't journalism, this is stalking a private individual.

    1. Re:wants to remain anonymous let him by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

      Haha yeah right, this story brought them lots of page views and reminded people that Newsweek is still in business, she'll likely get a bonus! Journalism is a thing for the history books at this point. Capitalism killed it. It wasn't as profitable as running what used to be called a "gossip rag."

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    2. Re:wants to remain anonymous let him by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Newsweek needs to fire Leah McGrath Goodman and her editor for violating an individual's privacy. This isn't journalism, this is stalking a private individual.

      She's an independent writer.

  9. BitCoinz!?!?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What about teh open market!?!?!?!! HERP!!!!

  10. Re:CIA under investigation for monitoring Senate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    couldn't get your bs past the editors could you?

  11. Newsweek is the new National Enquirer by Kwelstr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Seriously, this was once a very respected mag that will never publish such trash and make it pass for true journalism just to get page views. Newsweek may be happy with all the attention, but the reporting was amateurish. That's what happens when you cut cost by firing all the carreer pros and get sub par people to do the vetting. I hope they go the way of Time mag sooner rather than later. The poor guy that has only a name to share with the true creator of bitcoin probably will get a lawyer and a big cash settlement. The bitcoin community sees this as a lot of fun after a few weeks of distressing news. Bitcoin as a whole is benefiting from all the publicity. All in all, bad journalism and not a bad week for bitcoin.

    --


    ~~~Please pass the salt, I hate unsalted MD5s :-/
    1. Re:Newsweek is the new National Enquirer by pr0fessor · · Score: 2

      It makes me think. Are media outlets that are doing stories about bitcoin also trading in them with hopes of inflating the value?

    2. Re:Newsweek is the new National Enquirer by Algae_94 · · Score: 1

      It makes me think. Are media outlets that are doing stories about bitcoin also trading in them with hopes of inflating the value?

      Of course they are. Don't you know everyone is in some sort of scheme or another. Trust no one.

    3. Re:Newsweek is the new National Enquirer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't know if he is going to get a settlement, but Andreas Antonopoulos has already collected $20,000 from the bitcoin community to cover this guys trouble.

      https://blockchain.info/address/1Dorian4RoXcnBv9hnQ4Y2C1an6NJ4UrjX

    4. Re:Newsweek is the new National Enquirer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They're the rag that published a story saying heaven was real and had to retract their false report of Korans being flushed down toilets.

    5. Re:Newsweek is the new National Enquirer by DanielRavenNest · · Score: 1

      Bloomberg LLC is. They invested in venture company Andreessen-Horowitz, who in turn put $25 million into Coinbase, a company that processes merchant payments in bitcoin and deposits local currency to their bank account. They also have 1 million online wallets and sell bitcoins to individuals. Bloomberg TV does a lot of stories about bitcoin these days.

  12. poor guy just wants to be left alone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    thank you american press now we know that an old man made something some of us place value upon.

  13. Stalking is stalking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you do not perform due diligence as a journalist, you end up being a paparazzi. This is piranha like behavior. No one wanted to know where this mans lives (except for those who might wish to harm him). Shame on Newsweek and the L.A. Times.

    1. Re:Stalking is stalking by SystematicPsycho · · Score: 1

      They needed a big story for the print edition, bitcoin was the flavour of the week after Mt Gox. This journalist was researching alleged Satoshi for months. Combine all the events together they were going to run with this story regardless. That's why it's such a retarded story when you read it, it's half-baked thrown together. They're saying it's him based on a big hunch - but they couldn't care less they got their 15 mins of fame (or infame). Posting his picture and house maybe that had something to do with the half-bakedness, every other media outlet went to his door, it was to make more controversy thus making the print more successful in their eyes. This Satoshi should sue big-time.

      --
      Analytic & algebraic topology of locally Euclidean meterization of infinitely differentiable Riemmanian manifold
  14. Police interview by CurryCamel · · Score: 5, Interesting

    He also said a key portion of the piece - where he is quoted telling the reporter on his doorstep before two police officers

    I know one should not mention the pink elephant in the room, but why did the newsweek reported do the interview with the police present?

    1. Re:Police interview by DaveV1.0 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Because the guy called to police to make the reporter leave.

      --
      There is no "-1 offended" or "-1 you don't agree with me" mod options for a reason.
    2. Re:Police interview by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      There's no pink elephant in the room. Nakamoto called the police, police showed up, Nakamoto then granted a brief interview in the presence of the Police.

    3. Re:Police interview by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The guy called the police because she was harassing him.

    4. Re:Police interview by blueg3 · · Score: 2

      Because Nakamoto is the one who called the police and asked for them to be present?

    5. Re:Police interview by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because it wasn't an interview, it was a paparazzi assault.

    6. Re:Police interview by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just remember he is not a native English speaker too and with the policeman there was probably very nervous and not too clear on what he was saying in English. He should have simply reverted to speaking Japanese.

  15. I am not Dorian Nakamoto. by Andster · · Score: 0

    But I AM SPARTACUS.

  16. Two Months? by rabun_bike · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Once people inside the publication or organization get wrapped up in these stories they can no longer think subjectively. They convince themselves they have it right and sometimes they don't but it is hard to convince yourself otherwise.

    Two months is not a huge amount of time to do research for a story that no one else has come close to cracking. Just because the guy's bio sounds plausible doesn't make it so. Heck a few years ago a lawyer in the US was a partial thumbprint match on a bomb that exploded in Madrid. In the end his fingerprint matched the bomb maker's partial print and the FBI had to apologize but not before they put him through the ringer. Everyone was convinced he was the guy. They just couldn't see past the finger print match.
    http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5053...

    Another example is Dan Rather's early career retirement due to back research on then president Bush military service. Dan just couldn't let it go and it ended his career.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush_military_service_controversy

    Another FBI example was the Atlanta Olympic bomber suspect Ricard Jewel. FBI got that one wrong as well but plowed ahead anyway.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Jewell

    There are many more of these example.

  17. Newsweek's motives by SystematicPsycho · · Score: 2

    Newsweek is going print, they need a front page story, Mt Gox went bust, another bitcoin exchange boss was found dead, bitcoin was already the flavour of the week. Combine these events, Newsweek going print, lots to write about bitcoin. Now, a journalist along with two forensic analysts were researching the alleged Satoshi for 3+ months, at some point they have to deliver the goods.

    The perfect storm run with the bitcoin story no matter if true or false. Newseek's front page is the bitcoin story.

    Journalistically the story was a success. On moral, humanitarian, investigative, common sense, ethical grounds the story is a massive fail.

    What will be the repercussions? Poor guy was chased and hounded by journalists for having the same name, journalist making appearances like a hero on some shows. Forbes was calling it journalistic brilliance.

    At least retard achieved one thing, the real Satoshi stood up and said it's not me.

    --
    Analytic & algebraic topology of locally Euclidean meterization of infinitely differentiable Riemmanian manifold
  18. Not wanting to get shot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Not wanting to get shot for stalking the poor guy?

    1. Re:Not wanting to get shot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not wanting to get shot for stalking the poor guy?

      Police don't usually provide private security for news reporters.

  19. perhaps he posted to get the press off his back? by bbeesley · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If I was a genius recluse who had just been outed and was being hounded by the media, the first thing I would do is login to an account I hadn't used in years and say, "it ain't me!"

  20. Here is part of a Bitcoin by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 5, Funny

    I found it on the beach the other day - who ever owns it can have it back.

    CJZMlW8T4VdyDRTaX21dxQM4LgzD cswi7BCjxvRA0aJXqJloleQkm569Kih76etLWtGROna/fOzuBoS Po1W9aEvExga TQxWpayFSmbdrjDN+l4pMGVicmet9dSbW65Hy6zlOvv51Ws WMVwyD+11/VNW/SAivUM8PJ8jNLLC4qF1AIr n7yGrMp6KizqnbK3eiOJC91Qwy6O7k1Rta2vcxPpXXKx bxy67X5POhF6V1wOLWX/Akq2huto/WgZMx5W8c6VhDXNOgmiGknghKccHPtGHzEVyuc oscXRLPVePkq LaQQmlVRe JF42SluJrUaFH1CdAHNxiIzW2wC7bJLTP0165C WjIy/j2e8NEYbFlMjw8FWJYRXOL8KmBUukIl0Ng2M69hh X5dFvWqM5R1oOfiYtT7hIrp8 hZvdPRbnmG3U6 nW24B/5hyejm8as8WMfoICfX+k72tBfECBD 6mZ7rfk1xR99E6Eh3KM xolAo0EDcegNnrDR5K72JMQIEzvmkY

    --
    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
    1. Re:Here is part of a Bitcoin by PopeRatzo · · Score: 3, Funny

      Hey, that's my online banking password!

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    2. Re:Here is part of a Bitcoin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it's mine..;0 give me back now!

    3. Re:Here is part of a Bitcoin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The joke's on you: The bank only saves the first 12 chars and ignores the rest.

    4. Re:Here is part of a Bitcoin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Funny, ESX/i prior to 5.0 only saved the first 8 characters.

  21. I don't understand the logic behind this by marciot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    First off, let me say I don't care who Satoshi is and I think everyone should leave this Dorian guy alone, but I don't understand how a denial coming from that account proves anything. If in fact Dorian was BitCoin's creator, wouldn't he try to draw attention away from himself by posting from the original account saying that he wasn't who in fact he is?

    -- Marcio

    1. Re:I don't understand the logic behind this by SystematicPsycho · · Score: 2

      Maybe he felt sorry for the guy after all the real Satoshi isn't a serial killer.

      --
      Analytic & algebraic topology of locally Euclidean meterization of infinitely differentiable Riemmanian manifold
    2. Re:I don't understand the logic behind this by ThatAblaze · · Score: 1

      Yes, the only thing that post really proves is that Satoshi is alive and paying attention to the news. The only way that account could prove it wasn't Dorian is if someone put Dorian in jail or something (without giving him any advance warning so he can't set up a delayed script) and THEN this post was made.

      Well.. that or the real Satoshi could come forward (assuming it isn't this guy).

    3. Re:I don't understand the logic behind this by azcoyote · · Score: 1

      True--and, in fact, it makes more sense for someone who really wants to remain anonymous to remain silent and let an imposter be the center of attention. He might have posted to exonerate Dorian because he felt sorry for him, but what does it really matter? It's not like he was under arrest or being investigated by the police. Perhaps he posted to clear Dorian because he didn't like someone else getting credit, even if he won't stand up and take the credit himself. Or maybe Dorian just posted in order to further the confusion and try to trick people into thinking that he isn't the guy.

      --
      Incipiamus, fratres, servire Domino Deo, quia hucusque vix vel parum in nullo profecimus.
    4. Re:I don't understand the logic behind this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Even that wouldn't prove anything since you could still get someone to post on your behalf, and you could set that up even from behind bars.

    5. Re:I don't understand the logic behind this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If there is one thing I have noticed it's that most people in the crypto-coin arena are incredibly stupid. They don't understand such things. Seriously, go read some of the shit that shows up on bitcointalk and such. These are everyday Joes (aka The Facebook Crowd) that think they are some sort of badass because they used notepad to edit bitcoind.conf. Complete morons.

      With that said, these people are not all that different from the people in the stock/futures/whatever trading arena. 99% are fools and idiots. They are who pay the 1%.

    6. Re:I don't understand the logic behind this by mbkennel · · Score: 1


      If in fact Dorian were Bitcoin's created, he wouldn't have agreed to talk with a reporter from Newsweek.

      Some background on Newsweek. This article is the first for Newsweek's newly relaunched print edition, and the first under it's entirely new owners after bankruptcy.

      a) Motivation for Dorian to out himself, immediately following a high-profile bankruptcy/crash/fraud at an exchange? None whatsoever.
      a) Motivation for newsweek or reporter (reporter jobs are very scarce now) to somehow stretch the truth Putin-style? You betcha!

  22. If I were him by Virtucon · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'd say "Yeah I'm him, give me my $600 million for the Bitcoins I own and I'll tell you my story."

    Which would begin...

    "I was born a poor black child."

    He should play it for all its worth.

    --
    Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
    1. Re:If I were him by natophonic · · Score: 1

      In that case, I'd say it's clear that he found his 'special purpose!'

    2. Re:If I were him by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here!

      Nakamoto, Satoshi! I'm somebody now! Millions of people look at this book everyday! This is the kind of spontaneous publicity - your name in print - that makes people. I'm in print! Things are going to start happening to me now.

    3. Re:If I were him by Algae_94 · · Score: 1

      Oh, this is the best pizza in a cup ever

    4. Re:If I were him by UnanimousCoward · · Score: 1

      Actually, I was thinking the opposite:

      If I were NOT him, how could I parlay this into something worth my while? Grant an exclusive interview for $100k stating beforehand that I am NOT him so there are no misconceptions? Pose in Playgirl? What? He might as well try to turn lemons into lemonade...

      --
      Twelve-and-three-quarter inches. Unyielding. This wand belonged to Bellatrix Lestrange.
    5. Re:If I were him by hoeferbe · · Score: 1

      I'm hoping you're just a troll (and that I'm falling for you), because it would be really sad that you totally missed what the parent (and many repliers) were actually quoting from:

      The Jerk

    6. Re:If I were him by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      I overcame cancer by keeping the dream alive that one day I would win an olympic gold medal in a sport you've never heard of, in a city I've never heard of. When that dream failed to come true (apparently you need athletic talent) I invented bitcoin instead and used my dentist's name on the paper.

  23. May destroy the career of bad journalists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    On the bright side, if it does turn out to be false, the Newsweek reporter will be fired, and possibly also the editor. We may be rid of a couple of crappy journalists.

    1. Re:May destroy the career of bad journalists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, they will just move to Fox News.

    2. Re:May destroy the career of bad journalists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      No, because the Newsweek error is accident/incompetence. Faux News, on the other hand, is purely intentional propaganda.

  24. Re:Bitcoin: I am not money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Doesn't matter what is true, its what people believe.

    What matters is what Wikipedia says. And Wikipedia says, "Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer payment system and digital currency introduced as open source software in 2009 by developer Satoshi Nakamoto.".

  25. Re:Bitcoin: I am not money by Oligonicella · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Because we all know Wikipedia can't be edited by someone with an agenda.

  26. So by morgauxo · · Score: 1

    How does that prove anything?

  27. Re:Bitcoin: I am not money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Damn straight. There's even some dude out there trying to convince the world that "Oligonicella is a wide-ranging genus of mantises".

    It's not just deadlines that make whooshing sounds, you know?

  28. Ding dong! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...the FBI had to apologize but not before they put him through the ringer.

    While I am sure they rung his bells for him, the word you're looking for is wringer.

    1. Re:Ding dong! by rabun_bike · · Score: 1

      Not the only typo in my post but thanks. I should have also said "objectively" and not "subjectively" as well as some other grammatical errors. Just the nature of unedited posts. I would love to have an editor follow me around though. That would be awesome.

  29. Re:Bitcoin: I am not money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Doesn't matter what is true...

    No more needs be said...

  30. Jimmy Fallon prank by zerosomething · · Score: 1

    It's all a Jimmy Fallon prank on Leah McGrath Goodman. He's been setting it up for months.

    --
    It all starts at 0
    1. Re:Jimmy Fallon prank by drainbramage · · Score: 1

      Jimmy Fallon is the Late Night Beta.

      --
      No brain, no pain.
  31. Donations for Satoshi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is pretty obvious to anyone paying attention that this isn't the creator of Bitcoin. If you care about what the media has done to this guy or you're just feeling generous, you can donate to him here: https://blockchain.info/address/1Dorian4RoXcnBv9hnQ4Y2C1an6NJ4UrjX?offset=0&filter=0 They've already collected over $7500 USD for him.

    Information:
    http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/1ztjmg/andreas_im_fundraising_for_dorian_nakamoto/

    1. Re:Donations for Satoshi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That Andreas guy is most cool for doing that.

      Dorian was a friend of mine when we worked together a very long time ago. I am sorry to hear about his health problems. I certainly did not find him to be an a-hole like that one report said.

      I don't know if he's the inventor of bitcoin or not, and wouldn't divulge it even if I did. I hope that he is sitting on $400 million and cashes out somehow.

  32. Doesn't Ring A Bell by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 1

    It's a question of ethics and credibility...

    "Them I'm still looking for." -- Leah McGrath Goodman

  33. Who is making the claim is important by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Remember that Newsweek is making the claim that Dorian is the guy. They are making the claim and need the evidence. If that evidence is strong enough that the recent denial is irrelevant then there you go. Otherwise....

    Moreover, how can Dorian prove that it isn't him. For that matter how can I prove that it isn't me. Perhaps you are Santoshi. Prove you aren't. Until someone else is verifiability shown to be Santoshi then it is very hard/impossible to prove otherwise.

    1. Re:Who is making the claim is important by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

      #iamsatoshi

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  34. Bitcoin designer is technologically out of touch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So you are saying that it makes sense that he is the guy who created bitcoin because he A) doesn't understand how the internet works and B) doesn't understand privacy...

    It absolutely makes sense. Bitcoin's design assumes ordinary users can successfully make periodic backups. That notion was abandoned long ago. So yes, the bitcoin designer does seem technologically out of touch.

  35. Re:Bitcoin: I am not money by goombah99 · · Score: 1

    I am not the Satoshi Nakamoto. I deny this. I am the Batman.

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
  36. Merchants can out you by perpenso · · Score: 0

    ... it's anonymous if you take the effort and not anonymous if you don't ...

    Not really. Merchants can out you.

    1. Re:Merchants can out you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Not really. Merchants can't stop you from creating as many addresses as you want beforehand.

    2. Re:Merchants can out you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      >Not really. Merchants can out you.

      Fortunate, then, that each user can have an unlimited number of wallets, and that controlled spends from various wallets would mean a merchant can only out that the wallet you specifically use for them is related to you.

      All other wallets that funded that address are anonymous, although possibly tainted in that multiple merchants outing you might lead back to a source wallet. Technically, outing you once leads through the entire blockchain, but a wallet that isn't tagged pretty much leaves the trail dead.

      So, if you take the effort, it's rather anonymous. And if you don't, you gets what you gets.

  37. so far, not proof that it's not him.. then. by strstr · · Score: 1

    The dude who posted on Satoshi Nakamto's account could be spreading misinformation. Essentially, it's a misinformation campaign to hide the identity of Satoshi Nakamto.

    Think about it also; why would this guy Satoshi suddenly log in to his account after 5 years, just to get back involved in something he doesn't even care about, unless he really saw it as a threat that his identity had been exposed? Satoshi would have just been trying to hide the fact that he really was Dorian Nakamoto by doing this.

    I would go back to the first statements made by Dorian Nakamoto, and say that they were accurate and he knew exactly what he was replying to, but didn't think it through enough/was panicked into his denials (he even knew to call the cops, trying to defend himself from exposure). Now he's come back trying to trick the public into thinking he's some dim witted nut, has dementia, or is senile, and didn't know what bitcoin was or what he was talking about.

    Guy who worked for the DOD though? Nah, these guys are sharp as a wim, so I think he's intelligently trying to cover this up.

    Additionally, we may never know if someone else comes through trying to claim they're the real SM. We need polygraphs, and we need to go back and analyse his early writing style to compare it to old samples from any would be claimant. We also need to compare IP addresses and track down who this and that are from the server logs, and track this guy SM's activity, and compare it to Dorian's. We should also try to get ahold of Dorian Nakamoto's hand writing and online text, because we can compare his language use and grammar to see if it matches up with Satoshi's. A writer for the New Yorker actually did this back in 2011 during the first attempt to track this guy down, going on a lead that the guy may have been English and located in London or somewhere about there, working for some bank..

    1. Re:so far, not proof that it's not him.. then. by strstr · · Score: 1

      I think he had paranoid guilt inside the first time they approached. Do the analysis:

      1. Newsweek starts up their investigation.
      2. Contacts family members.... tipping him off.
      3. Newsweek approaches, Dorian is paranoid as fuck, calls the cops and expects that Newsweek knows. He clearly backs up the story of Satoshi, "I have nothing to do with that anymore, I turned it over to the public to deal with long ago".
      4. Dorian reads Newsweek articles, realizes they had no more proof it was him other than his statements, decides to try to change his responses and deny he said anything about it. Obviously, he's lying though, because he's trying to pretend he's a senile cook and that nobody will notice ...
      5. ???
      6. Profit by making shit up.. :)

    2. Re:so far, not proof that it's not him.. then. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      An old man (and his family) were being stalked by a crazy lady.

      They had no idea who she was or what scam she was trying to pull.

      Anyone can print a business card with any business name on it. That doesn't prove anything.

      The victim (the person being stalked) had no way of knowing who the stalker really was.

      He called the police in a frantic attempt to get rid of the stalker.

      Anyone who believes the stalker's account of all that - is an idiot.

    3. Re:so far, not proof that it's not him.. then. by strstr · · Score: 1

      That would require the dude being a senile incompetent douche to believe though. This guy worked for the DOD, and knew how to handle situations like this. I know these old geezers, they're competent and skillful as fuck at dealing with world issues.

      This guy made no mention of not knowing who this chick was, in fact he referred to her as a Newsweek reporter, and that his son told him he had interviewed him ..

      "In an exclusive two-hour interview with The Associated Press, Nakamoto, 64, denied he had anything to do with it and said he had never heard of bitcoin until his son told him he had been contacted by a Newsweek reporter three weeks ago."

      If you look at his pic, he looks like a Japanese programming genius, maybe excelling in mathematics like any other Japanese, and a fucking liar who could easily be making up a story to protect himself. He doesn't even look like an old geezer or anything; not like your easily tricked, story telling grandpa.

      There was no question that he didn't know what he was dealing with from the get go, and first responses matter. Everything later is a lie or fabrication to try to cover something disclosed earlier up..

    4. Re:so far, not proof that it's not him.. then. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are a very rude and unpleasant person.

    5. Re:so far, not proof that it's not him.. then. by Jeremi · · Score: 1

      Presumably whoever designed and wrote BitCoin must be really good at programming and distributed cryptography design -- otherwise BitCoin would have been exploited into uselessness a long time ago.

      So, do we have any evidence that Dorian has the necessary skills to design/write/debug the original BitCoin codebase? I would expect that someone with that level of specialized talent would not go unnoticed/undocumented for 40+ years.

      --


      I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
    6. Re:so far, not proof that it's not him.. then. by jnana · · Score: 1

      Think about it also; why would this guy Satoshi suddenly log in to his account after 5 years, just to get back involved in something he doesn't even care about, unless he really saw it as a threat that his identity had been exposed? Satoshi would have just been trying to hide the fact that he really was Dorian Nakamoto by doing this.

      Perhaps he read the Internets Thursday morning like I did and saw people talking about how Dorian Nakamoto was going to become a target for extortion and possibly vigilante "justice" from people who've lost money or know that he's sitting on hundreds of millions. I personally think that only a heartless bastard wouldn't post to try to clear the name of an innocent person, as long as the risk to oneself was minimal.

    7. Re:so far, not proof that it's not him.. then. by pipedwho · · Score: 1

      So far there is insufficient proof that Dorian is Satoshi. A few random correlations across huge populations does not evidence make.

      Perhaps the real Satoshi has a 5 year old kid and doesn't waste too much time on his pseudonymous accounts anymore. But, he still reads the news, saw this crap turn up and figured he couldn't just let it slide. I know I would have done the same if I was Satoshi and some poor bastard was baselessly getting hounded like that.

      Regarding your comment on people who work for the DOD: it isn't like the movies. There are all sorts of people at various levels who may have come in because they worked at a firm that was subcontracted. The people I've worked with in this area aren't all geniuses. In fact most are far from it - most are just regular employees that have been vetted a little more than your average joe to weed out people with a problematic history. Don't you think every company out there wants the best and smartest people? Maybe the NSA somehow manages to find all the well rounded geniuses, and pays them huge amounts of money to keep them. But, the average DOD contractor is definitely not some super-employee like you elude to in your comment.

    8. Re:so far, not proof that it's not him.. then. by DanielRavenNest · · Score: 1

      Analysis of the text of the original bitcoin paper (word choice, spelling, punctuation) points to Nick Szabo as the likely main creator of Bitcoin. Szabo had been working for several years before that on an idea called "bit gold", a direct technical predecessor of bitcoin. His website ( http://szabo.best.vwh.net/ ) has papers on many of the same topics that bitcoin is involved with. Japanese names are written last name first, so "Satoshi Nakamoto" and Nick Szabo both share the initials "NS". That's not proof, but it is suggestive.

      Hal Finney may have made significant contributions. He developed the "proof of work" method by which bitcoin reaches consensus on the transaction history. Finney is a well known cryptography developer (he works on the PGP software). He started mining bitcoin the day after the software went live, and was the recipient of the very first bitcoin transaction, from "Satoshi" to him. Finney and Szabo are known to have met and communicated before bitcoin was created, and him starting to mine so early and getting the first transaction makes sense if they worked together on the project.

      Examining the programming style of the first versions of bitcoin (before other open-source developers got involved) may help point to who created it, but I have not seen any analysis of that.

    9. Re:so far, not proof that it's not him.. then. by DanielRavenNest · · Score: 1

      > Perhaps the real Satoshi has a 5 year old kid and doesn't waste too much time on his pseudonymous accounts anymore.

      The original Satoshi disappeared when Gavin Andresen, now lead programmer for bitcoin, mentioned he was going to talk to the CIA about the project. Satoshi immediately stopped posting on forums and hadn't been heard from until yesterday on any of those accounts. Either he was spooked by getting three letter agency spooks involved, or he *worked* for a three letter agency and thought his cover might be blown.

  38. No surprise by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 1

    Journalism in the US, especially journalism about anything even slightly "technical," is total shit.

  39. Newsweek report is naive by peter303 · · Score: 1

    If they believe that was the real name of bitcoin inventor(s). Of course there are some people in the world with that name unfortunately.

    1. Re:Newsweek report is naive by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 1

      Of course there are some people in the world with that name unfortunately.

      What percentage of the people named "Satoshi Nakamto" are / were engineers with the skill-set to pull it off? Or, perhaps

      I wonder: There are published documents supposedly written by this mysterious "Satoshi Nakamto", what about doing a style analysis with works by this guy who says it isn't him?

      But on a broader note, this is sensationalist journalism designed to drive sales and page views of the resurrected Newsweek, once a solid pillar of "journalism", now not much more than the Daily Mirror.

      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
  40. The Long Con by Princeofcups · · Score: 1

    If I were organized crime, I would either create exchanges to ponzy people's coins, or else take over the exchanges at gunpoint. I'd also track down the creators and experts, and threaten/browbeat information out of them to break the system. Bit coin is like the keys to Fort Knox given to a couple dozen random people around the world. Hey, just saying.

    Of course after you take your initial cut, you'll find that taking the scheme legit (semi-legit really) is the way to cash in big. In that regard, bitcoin might succeed in the long run if they don't panic and pull out the supports on the way out. Think of Las Vegas, possibly on an even larger scale.

    --
    The only thing worse than a Democrat is a Republican.
    1. Re:The Long Con by Agripa · · Score: 1

      Instead of using the exchange to steal the coins of others, I would use it to launder money. Aren't casinos used the same way?

  41. Re:Bitcoin designer is technologically out of touc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The "Only the true Messiah denies His divinity" argument.

  42. Re:Bitcoin: I am not money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://p2pfoundation.ning.com/xn/detail/2003008:Comment:52186

    Bitcoin open source implementation of P2P currency

    I've developed a new open source P2P e-cash system called Bitcoin.

  43. clarification by Rudisaurus · · Score: 1

    'It sounded like I was involved before with bitcoin and looked like I'm not involved now. That's not what I meant. I want to clarify that,' he said.

    So ... you meant that you are still involved now? I think I see what you're saying, Satoshi/Dorian ...

    --
    licet differant, aequabitur
  44. FTFY by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    claims to have learned of Bitcoin only recently

  45. Reverse tactics on Newsweek by gwstuff · · Score: 1

    It would be hilarious if Dorian were to be reversing Newsweek's tactics on them. Newsweek - "We have evidence - here, and that's good enough to thrown open the curtain on this guy." Dorian (via credible source of Bitcoin news, which he has control over) - You want evidence? We're the biggest authority on Bitcoin - we know this dude is not the inventor - in fact he was probably using loose language - go ask him again. Dorian to reporters "I was just using loose language, nope, I was talking about general computer stuff, not Bitcoin."

  46. Obligatory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Brian: I'm not the Messiah! Will you please listen? I am not the Messiah, do you understand? Honestly!
    Girl: Only the true Messiah denies His divinity.

  47. Re:Bitcoin designer is technologically out of touc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No.

  48. But who is... by DarthVain · · Score: 2

    John Galt?

    OK this late on Friday I am really not even trying anymore...

    1. Re:But who is... by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      Who is John Galt?

      Some fucking sad-sack libertarian survivalist hanging out in the woods with his guns.

    2. Re:But who is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Better than you, sack of boring dog shit.

    3. Re:But who is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's all right for me to be a piece of shit so long as there is another, bigger piece of shit out there that I can be righteously indignant about.

    4. Re:But who is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Libertarian, same Republican shit, different name.

  49. Re:Bitcoin: I am not money by Mister+Transistor · · Score: 4, Funny

    Dorian Nakamoto?

    I suppose he has a picture of a dollar in his attic, and every time a Bitcoin is mined, it fades a little...

    --
    -- You are in a maze of little, twisty passages, all different... --
  50. But if it is him... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If it is him, clearly he wants to fool people into thinking it's not him so he'll be left alone. Sooo....

    Why wouldn't he get on teh internets and post a message saying "You people got the wrong guy" to try and convince more people it isn't really him, even though it is?

  51. Re:Bitcoin: I am not money by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1, Funny

    There's even some dude out there trying to convince the world that "Oligonicella is a wide-ranging genus of mantises".

    Oligonicella is hardly a genus.

    It barely broke 1500 on the SAT.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  52. Re:perhaps he posted to get the press off his back by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    if she floats, she's a witch.

  53. Re:Hey mods! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    lick my balls & call me sally

  54. Re: Bitcoin designer is technologically out of tou by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No I don't.

  55. Re:CIA under investigation for monitoring Senate by DTentilhao · · Score: 1

    I guess you've been getting your news from Fox News too long, for this not to bother you ...

  56. Nothing is more tantalizing by mnt · · Score: 1

    than to not know whats true or not being part of the circle that knows the answer.

  57. who to believe... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As far as I can tell, since there is no evidence, it's a choice between who you want to believe:

    1.) A man who *knows* whether or not he's involved with bitcoin, and seems pretty sure he's not;

    2.) A transparently giddy reporter who doesn't know, at best is speculating, and has everything to gain with her unsubstantiated claims.

  58. Re: Bitcoin: I am not money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I am not the Satoshi Nakamoto. I deny this. I am Keyser Soze.

  59. Re:Bitcoin: I am not money by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

    I suppose he has a picture of a dollar in his attic, and every time a Bitcoin is mined, it fades a little...

    That is possibly the funniest thing that I've heard about Bitcoin since ... well, since I heard about Bitcoin.

    It was always obvious that if it were able to do the things that it said it could, then "the man" would shut it down, hard. And it looks like they did. Not a surprise.

    --
    Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"