Craig Wright Claims He's Satoshi Nakamoto, the Creator Of Bitcoin

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Craig Wright Claims He's Satoshi Nakamoto, the Creator Of Bitcoin

Posted by msmash on Monday May 2, 2016 @02:00AM from the curious-case-of-bitcoin,-and-whoever-created-it dept.

Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright has put an end to the years-long speculation about the creator of Bitcoin. In an interview with the BBC, The Economist (may have a paywall), and GQ, Wright claimed that he is indeed the person who developed the concepts on which Bitcoin cryptocurrency is built. According to the BBC, Mr. Wright provided "technical proof to back up his claim using coins known to be owned by Bitcoin's creator." Wright writes in a blog post: [A]fter many years, and having experienced the ebb and flow of life those years have brought, I think I am finally at peace with what he meant. If I sign Craig Wright, it is not the same as if I sign Craig Wright, Satoshi[...] Since those early days, after distancing myself from the public persona that was Satoshi, I have poured every measure of myself into research. I have been silent, but I have not been absent. I have been engaged with an exceptional group and look forward to sharing our remarkable work when they are ready. Satoshi is dead. But this is only the beginning. According to Wright's website, he is a "computer scientist, businessman and inventor" born in Brisbane, Australia, in October 1970. Some have questioned the authenticity and relevance of the "technical proof" Wright has provided. Nik Cubrilovic, an Australian former hacker and leading internet security blogger, wrote, "I don't believe for a second Wright is Satoshi. I know two people who worked with Wright, characterized him as crazy and schemer/charlatan." Michele Spagnuolo, Information Security Engineer at Google added, "He's not Satoshi. He just reused a signed message (of a Sartre text) by Satoshi with block 9 key as 'proof.'"

147 comments

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Any day now! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:04 · Score: -1

Glad we're still talking about this pointless, shitty technology from 2009. What's next, we'll be Waving each other about the stuff we found on Bing?
1. Re:Any day now! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:35 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Glad we're still talking about this pointless, shitty technology from 2009. What's next, we'll be Waving each other about the stuff we found on Bing?
  Hey, check out this new Nickelback song on my Zune!
2. Re:Any day now! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 03:16 · Score: 0
  
  Oh, man, sweet, squirt that over to me.
3. Re:Any day now! by OakDragon · 2016-05-02 04:09 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Hey, check out this new Nickelback song on my Zune!
  That reminds me of a funny thing one of my co-workers said about his Zune (this was almost 10 years ago.)
  He was describing the features of the Zune in comparison with the iPod. One neat thing was, he said, that one Zune could "loan" a song to another Zune. (I think the song would last for 3 days then go *poof*.)
  I said, "Wow, that's pretty neat. How does that work?"
  He said, "I don't know... I haven't met anyone else with a Zune yet."
  
  --
  Dark Reflection
4. Re:Any day now! by Billy+the+Mountain · 2016-05-02 05:03 · Score: 1
  
  Well? Did he ever meet anybody else with a Zune?
  
  --
  That was the turning point of my life--I went from negative zero to positive zero.
5. Re:Any day now! by Kenshin · 2016-05-02 05:25 · Score: 1
  
  Right, I'd forgotten about the Zune's ability to "squirt" songs.
  I can't believe they used that term.
  
  --
  Does it make you happy you're so strange?
6. Re:Any day now! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 05:52 · Score: 0
  
  Nicely done. Can we be rid of all this bit ponzi shit now, finally.
7. Re:Any day now! by UnknowingFool · 2016-05-02 08:19 · Score: 1
  
  Ah, yes, a feature that wasn't really a feature. Had Microsoft implemented it with fewer restrictions, the Zune might have had a chance. It had quite a number of restrictions that made it practically useless. Most people don't know about "squirting" was that the Zune would delete all media not just ones that had DRM. So if you "loaned" a recording of your child singing the alphabet to the grandparents, it would be deleted in 3 days. Also copyright holders like Universal could prevent any of their songs from being shared (which they did). In the end, it would not have been utilized much even if you could find other owners.
  
  --
  Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
If he were, why isn't he using the money? by JoshuaZ · 2016-05-02 02:05 · Score: 4, Insightful

The real Satoshi Nakamoto is worth at minimum around a half a billion dollars.
1. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:07 · Score: 0
  
  Those bitcoins were likely stolen long, long ago.
2. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:11 · Score: 0
  
  Explain that to the Australian Tax Office.
3. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:13 · Score: 0
  
  Probably because he's well off already and can afford to wait until his Bitcoins are worth over a billion dollars. That shouldn't take longer than another 5-10 years, as more and more online businesses (Steam) start to accept Bitcoin.
4. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:15 · Score: 0
  
  Maybe not enough people are selling things yet. We're still at a very early point in the economy, and it's not even an economy that everyone agrees will last.
5. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by arth1 · 2016-05-02 03:05 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  The real Satoshi Nakamoto is worth at minimum around a half a billion dollars.
  That would assume that selling that many bitcoins and adding them to the actively traded pool would not cause a significant inflationary depreciation.
  Even if done slowly, it would have a significant effect. There's no way to hide the infusion, no matter how slowly it is done, because the records are by design open.
6. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by omnichad · 2016-05-02 03:14 · Score: 1
  
  Almost nobody accepts Bitcoins for payment, except through an exchange with all prices in USD. Nobody says "this game costs 1.3 BTC, now send me 1.3 BTC". This has almost no influence on Bitcoins current or future value.
7. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 03:28 · Score: 0
  
  Um, we all know that market depth is not a thing in bitcoin land. At least, bitcoiners seem not to understand it in the least.
8. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by istartedi · 2016-05-02 05:44 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Those BTC may be worth that much at today's prices; but you can't sell out without crashing the market. There are, however, probably some established exit strategies for this kind of thing. He could, at the very least, have small planned sales and provide himself with a steady income without putting too much price pressure on the currency, adjusting the sales from time-to-time if it were causing prices to move in an undesirable direction. Ironically, that would be a lot like what the Fed does.
  
  --
  For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
9. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 05:51 · Score: 0
  
  How is this comment insightful? It is one of the most illogical things ever.
  "if he were (Satoshi), why isn't he using the money?"
  Everyone knows the original Satoshi coins haven't been spent. Therefore, the real Satoshi has not spent them. Let me repeat: the real Satoshi has not spent them.
  So by your logic, he can't be Satoshi because he hasn't spent the money? SATOSHI hasn't spent the money! Sheesh, I hope you're not a programmer.
10. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 05:52 · Score: 0
  
  Kaperles did nothing wrong!
11. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by JoshuaZ · 2016-05-02 06:05 · Score: 1
  
  The real Satoshi has a pretty obvious reason for not spending the the coins. It wouldn't be that hard to track down where they are spent and where that goes, thus making it easy to unmask them. In this case, if this person is actually Satoshi and he is being open about it, he loses the obvious reason to not spend any.
12. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · 2016-05-02 06:44 · Score: 1
  
  Who says he hasn't ? The blockchain. Pfft, The smart strategy with an investment expected to gain over time, is not to reduce principle, but to borrow against it at a rate lower than the rate of return you get on the investment.
  This is why rich guys will often finance their sports cars, at like 0-1% interest, because their principle is making 7%.
  
  --
  Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
13. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 08:11 · Score: 0
  
  isn't this why we all finance cars? and all kinds of things?....
14. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 08:22 · Score: 0
  
  If you cannot sell at a given price, the item in question is not worth that price. Why is that so hard for you economic faggots to grep?
  The same goes for dumping stock shares.
15. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 08:44 · Score: 0
  
  No, probably they were not stolen.
  It is somewhat likely that the key was lost, and thinly possible that the key was stolen. The reason it is less likely to be simple theft is, the bitcoins didn't GO anywhere. They haven't moved. If guy B stole the key from guy A, guy A could still have a backup copy of the key. Unless he provably does not (or is dead), guy A or his companion guy C could go move those bitcoins, and B's theft would be averted. If it was stolen, you would 100% expect guy B to have moved the bitcoins immediately, which has not happened.
16. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by cfalcon · 2016-05-02 08:46 · Score: 1
  
  > He could, at the very least, have small planned sales
  In a rational market, yea, maybe. But this is Bitcoin. The coins in question haven't moved EVER- many assume that they are probably stuck in place (essentially destroyed), and the market reflects whatever percent of bitcoin speculators believe that. So even moving a single bitcoin would probably cause some pretty serious effects.
  Certainly, this guy is not Satoshi, and now we know for sure. Previously there were hints that he may have set up. Now that he is claiming it, and refuses to do any arbitrary proof, he is trivially a liar until such time as he actually demonstrates it. There's a bunch of ways to do that, after all.
17. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by JcMorin · 2016-05-02 08:55 · Score: 1
  
  Correct, nothing is priced in bitcoin but if you try to buy or sell for a million dollars of bitcoin you will influence the price because the exchanges do not have this kind of liquidity at stop price.
18. Re: If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 10:08 · Score: 0
  
  That's right! And just because you put only the tip of the cock into your ass instead of the whole thing, you aren't gay! Grats!
19. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by mattack2 · 2016-05-02 10:09 · Score: 1
  
  The article says it's owned by a foundation, not him.
20. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by mattack2 · 2016-05-02 10:25 · Score: 1
  
  You don't have to be "a rich guy" to do that. If you have a low enough mortgage, _counting_ the mortgage interest deduction(*), you can reasonably make more from investing that you would have made by paying off the mortgage earlier.
  (*) I know some deductions are reduced due to AMT, I'm not sure if the mortgage interest deduction is. If so, and one pays AMT, that has to be taken into account.
21. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 15:57 · Score: 0
  
  Making use of a fortune is not the same as selling off 100% of your assets in one instant. Satoshi Nakamoto could spend 10,000 BTC a year for 100 years without depressing BTC value at all. That much money could solve a lot of Craig Wright's problems, if he actually had it. Clearly he doesn't.
22. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by countach · 2016-05-02 19:39 · Score: 1
  
  If you're a hedge fund wanting to dump a million shares of company X, you don't just run down to the NYSE and say "SELL". You find some other hedge fund or mutual fund, and you make them an offer. Maybe you give them a few dollars off the current price or whatever. Same situation here, there would probably be folks willing to take 50 million dollars of bitcoin off you for the right price and they would hold it or slowly sell it or whatever. Don't bet that 500 million of bitcoin can't be liquidated.
23. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 19:51 · Score: 0
  
  It can be quite difficult to trace the transaction, even to a geographical location... Then problem comes when he wants to exchange it for some other currency..
  If i where him, or had those keys, i would set up something like $1000000 per year to pay for development of new features that would improve the economy... If enough people vote for a feature then it gets funded or if he sees something he would like to be implemented.
24. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 19:54 · Score: 0
  
  Well there is a big difference from financing your car and then spending the money you don't have and financing your car, with your current stock-portfolio as security for a low-interest loan, and keep the invested money invested..
25. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-03 05:50 · Score: 0
  
  Steam is now accepting bitcoin as well. thousands of places do. http://www.bitcoinvalues.net/who-accepts-bitcoins-payment-companies-stores-take-bitcoins.html
26. Re:If he were, why isn't he using the money? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-04 05:03 · Score: 0
  
  False.. try using google.
The simplest proof by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:05 · Score: 0

The simplest proof would be transfering 0.01 bitcoins from a Very Early Block, to an address provided by a reputable bunch of challengers.
1. Re:The simplest proof by Lord+Bitman · 2016-05-02 03:28 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  The simplest proof would be to sign a message from the owner of the "genesis block".
  Craig Wright pretended to do this, but actually copied&pasted a random signature from an early transaction, proving only that he's trying to commit fraud
  
  --
  -- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
2. Re:The simplest proof by golgotha007 · 2016-05-02 18:02 · Score: 1
  
  Better proof would be for him to sign something in today's headlines, or a block that was mined today.
Satosi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:06 · Score: -1

I knew it could never be a Japanese. I had be an Anglo.
No, I am Spartacus! by 14erCleaner · 2016-05-02 02:08 · Score: 4, Funny

-- digital signature follows jsdflkjjqweoieuwqeohglasjflksadjflqwjeer23492dlkfndvsjoiqeeut

--
Have you read my blog lately?
1. Re:No, I am Spartacus! by Qzukk · 2016-05-02 04:41 · Score: 1
  
  First few characters are the same, looks legit.
  
  --
  If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
2. Re:No, I am Spartacus! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 06:44 · Score: 0
  
  No, I'm Brian
3. Re:No, I am Spartacus! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 08:49 · Score: 0
  
  I thought your wife was named Brian?
Bitcoin creator by Junta · 2016-05-02 02:09 · Score: 4, Funny

I know two people who worked with Wright, characterized him as crazy and schemer/charlatan
How does this make him *not* a candidate for being the creator of BitCoin? To me that just seems to reinforce his claim.

--
XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
1. Re:Bitcoin creator by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:14 · Score: -1
  
  Yup, that's the best new pyramid scheme that was created since the beginning of time! :D
2. Re:Bitcoin creator by ShanghaiBill · 2016-05-02 03:16 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Yup, that's the best new pyramid scheme that was created since the beginning of time! :D
  No, the greatest pyramid schemer was Khufu.
3. Re:Bitcoin creator by folgers91 · 2016-05-02 03:47 · Score: 1
  
  because why would he not want to remain anonymous? He created is anonymously for a reason, why change now?
4. Re:Bitcoin creator by Junta · 2016-05-02 03:52 · Score: 0
  
  I'm not saying his claim is accurate, just that someone trying to call him out as a fraud might want to highlight a belief that the dude is just not smart enough to do it or that it makes no sense to come out rather than saying the guy's a crazy and a schemer, neither of which would preclude making something like Bitcoin. *Particularly* since a lot of us consider it a gigantic nerd ponzi scheme, it'd probably be best not to give us just more fuel for our argument.
  
  --
  XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
5. Re:Bitcoin creator by BasilBrush · 2016-05-02 05:32 · Score: 1
  
  I guess because he's annoyed by the constant speculation that he might be Yakamoto. Whilst Bitcoin is still a thing that wouldn't have stopped. But removing the mystery means a flood of media interest for a while, but then it'll be yesterday's news, and he'll get a bit more peace and quiet.
6. Re:Bitcoin creator by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 08:48 · Score: 0
  
  Satoshi did not seem insane. His posts were way more measured and reasonable than typical bitcoin discussion nowadays. I know you are making a joke, but whoever or whatever group Satoshi really is, there's not much insanity there- that all came later.
7. Re:Bitcoin creator by Coren22 · 2016-05-04 05:40 · Score: 1
  
  Considering Bitcoin doesn't even fit the definition of a pyramid scheme, perhaps you should learn more about the subject before spouting off 100 times in every bitcoin article?
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
  
  --
  APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
This looks like a job for.... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:11 · Score: -1

....... President Trump, from whom all good things flow.
Trump is father, Trump is mother.
Praise be to Him.
Thanks For Nothing by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:11 · Score: -1

Just how much energy has been wasted mining bitcoins over the years. This guy, and anyone that uses Bitcoin, is a drain on society and resources.
1. Re:Thanks For Nothing by GrumpySteen · 2016-05-02 02:16 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Just how much energy has been wasted mining bitcoins over the years.
  Probably less than one billionth of the amount of energy that's been used to view porn on the internet over the same period of time.
2. Re:Thanks For Nothing by worf_mo · 2016-05-02 02:26 · Score: 1
  
  Just how much energy has been wasted mining bitcoins over the years.
  Probably less than one billionth of the amount of energy that's been used to view porn on the internet over the same period of time.
  One of those two activities has eventually brought satisfaction to individuals. The other one has kept the hand-lotion-and-kleenex industry thriving for decades.
3. Re:Thanks For Nothing by StikyPad · 2016-05-02 02:38 · Score: 1
  
  Indeed. Working in those mining data centers really dries the skin, and the low returns are definitely responsible for many tears being shed. I think "decades" is a stretch though.
  
  --
  https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
4. Re:Thanks For Nothing by Aaden42 · 2016-05-02 02:54 · Score: 2
  
  How much energy has been wasted (and human life lost) mining a certain yellow metal out of the Earth? Granted gold has some practical use in manufacturing & electronics, but not so much that it justifies the inflation of its value caused by using it as money. Both gold and Bitcoin are valuable (or not) primarily because people believe in their value and because their supply is limited.
  As far as I know, nobody ever died mining Bitcoin.
5. Re:Thanks For Nothing by Thud457 · 2016-05-02 03:20 · Score: 1
  
  Granddaddy's had a bad case of bit-lung since ought-five, sadly he's not going to be with us much longer.
  Not to mention dozens of sysadmins killed when the bitmill burnt down because management chained the doors.
  
  --
  the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
6. Re:Thanks For Nothing by ShanghaiBill · 2016-05-02 03:21 · Score: 1
  
  Just how much energy has been wasted mining bitcoins over the years.
  Bitcoin mining is done where electricity is cheap, which means baseload hydropower in places like Iceland or Oregon. So the only "waste" is water flowing to the sea at a slightly lower velocity.
  
  This guy, and anyone that uses Bitcoin, is a drain on society and resources.
  Compared to what? Would we better off if people mined more gold and diamonds instead?
7. Re:Thanks For Nothing by quenda · 2016-05-02 03:42 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Just how much energy has been wasted mining bitcoins over the years. This guy, and anyone that uses Bitcoin, is a drain on society and resources.
  You could say exactly the same thing about gold. And more: the countless lives that have been lost digging gold out of the ground, only to have most of it sit in vaults. At least we don't have mine collapses and typhoid epidemics in the bit-coin mining camps.
8. Re:Thanks For Nothing by Megol · 2016-05-02 04:44 · Score: 1
  
  Just how much energy has been wasted mining bitcoins over the years.
  Bitcoin mining is done where electricity is cheap, which means baseload hydropower in places like Iceland or Oregon. So the only "waste" is water flowing to the sea at a slightly lower velocity.
  Hydropower isn't free nor without impact on the nature (and I'm not talking about building the powerplants here, just using them). Wasting it on something is still a waste.
  
  This guy, and anyone that uses Bitcoin, is a drain on society and resources.
  Compared to what? Would we better off if people mined more gold and diamonds instead?
  How about not trying to create a strawman? But even then: yes, both gold and diamonds are useful for manufacturing, medical treatments etc.
  Wasting power is still a waste.
9. Re:Thanks For Nothing by dak664 · 2016-05-02 04:53 · Score: 1
  
  True as far as the initial mining goes. But gold embodies the energy used to create it, after that it takes little energy to use it as a secure currency. "Counterfeit" gold would require use of present energy and cost as much as or more than the real thing.
  Whereas bitcoins embody no energy and to prevent counterfeiting *require* a increasing use of present energy in the form of ever more difficult blockchain mining. As more energy is needed the old bitcoins lose relative value; if verification could somehow be done with less energy then counterfeiting would be cheaper than mining.
  Either way, the whole scheme has to collapse after a massive waste of energy.
10. Re:Thanks For Nothing by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 05:02 · Score: 0
  
  Not trying to bait or derail, but can you provide some examples of how hydropower impacts nature? You already have dismissed the construction phase...
11. Re:Thanks For Nothing by rthille · 2016-05-02 05:22 · Score: 1
  
  Decades is not a stretch. Were were printing out ascii-art porn from usenet on the line printers at UC Irvine in 1986.
  
  --
  Awesome furniture, accessories and cabinetry in Santa Rosa, CA: http://humanity-home.com/
12. Re:Thanks For Nothing by rthille · 2016-05-02 05:23 · Score: 1
  
  It impounds the silt (nutrients) and prevents flush-out of gravel beds needed for fish spawn.
  
  --
  Awesome furniture, accessories and cabinetry in Santa Rosa, CA: http://humanity-home.com/
13. Re:Thanks For Nothing by Copid · 2016-05-02 05:23 · Score: 1
  
  Bitcoin mining is done where electricity is cheap, which means baseload hydropower in places like Iceland or Oregon.
  Or on other peoples' computers.
  
  --
  An interesting anagram of "BANACH TARSKI" is "BANACH TARSKI BANACH TARSKI"
14. Re:Thanks For Nothing by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 06:12 · Score: 0
  
  Decades is not a stretch. Were were printing out ascii-art porn from usenet on the line printers at UC Irvine in 1986.
  You got WOOSHed
15. Re:Thanks For Nothing by Whibla · 2016-05-02 06:18 · Score: 1
  
  ASCII porn was a thing in the early 70's at least, and probably earlier - I just wasn't in a situation where it was available until I got to secondary school.
  However, GP was, humorously, alluding to the fact that data centers have not been around for decades, or, at least, that they have not been used for bitcoin mining.for decades.
16. Re:Thanks For Nothing by ShanghaiBill · 2016-05-02 11:37 · Score: 1
  
  both gold and diamonds are useful for manufacturing, medical treatments etc.
  Only a tiny fraction of gold is used in industry. Nearly all is used to store value as either bullion, coinage, or jewelry. Gold mining is terribly destructive, creating erosion and mercury contamination. Most industrial diamonds are manufactured, not mined. Diamond mining fuels wars and funds corrupt governments.
17. Re:Thanks For Nothing by countach · 2016-05-02 19:41 · Score: 1
  
  Bitcoins kinda do embody the energy required to calculate their hashes, and they also take little energy (actually less energy) to store than compared to gold.
But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by NotDrWho · 2016-05-02 02:12 · Score: 3, Funny

And we must respect that, or liberals will boycott us.

--
SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
1. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by halivar · 2016-05-02 02:32 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Nope. It's cultural appropriation. Off to diversity training with you!
2. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:37 · Score: -1, Troll
  
  My God but you guys are clever. Why are you here when you could be changing the world by putting your skills to use over at Brietbart or RedState.
3. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by 110010001000 · 2016-05-02 02:41 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Please stop with your microagressions.
4. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by damn_registrars · 2016-05-02 02:48 · Score: 1
  
  All three of us? That's about the full population of slashdot liberals remaining, myself included. I won't speak for the other two but I don't care enough about the identity of the Bitcoin founder to boycott this site over it.
  
  --
  Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
5. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:52 · Score: 0
  
  /triggered
6. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:59 · Score: 0
  
  Right because being a douchebag on ./ is cool. Go get your shades and 4 popped collars. You've earned this moment in libertarian glory.
7. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 03:02 · Score: 0
  
  I self-identify as a billionaire, but I was born as a few thousandaire, and that has has caused me considerable angiush over the years. I just need a portfolio reassignment that agrees with my billionaire identity, and then I'll be happy! X^D
8. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by halivar · 2016-05-02 03:31 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  No, he's right. We violated AC's safe space. We should be ashamed.
9. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by halivar · 2016-05-02 03:33 · Score: 1
  
  I'm actually working on my second billion $$ right now. I had to give up on the first, though.
10. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 03:42 · Score: 0
  
  Found the governor of North Carolina...
11. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by aliquis · 2016-05-02 03:59 · Score: 1
  
  And we must respect that, or liberals will boycott us.
  I identify as morally superior to Muhammed.
  Now what? =P
12. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 04:03 · Score: 0
  
  Triggered
13. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by OhPlz · 2016-05-02 04:58 · Score: 1
  
  This is a gun free zone, please stop with the verbal violence.
14. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by vel-ex-tech · 2016-05-02 05:39 · Score: -1, Flamebait
  
  Yep, immediately dump on trans folks. Nicely done, you fucking feminist. I see a lot of the mods today are fucking feminists as well.
  This is why I've decided to vote Trump. None of this was a problem 10 years ago or even 5 years ago.
  But you fucking feminists had your pwecios Michigan Womyn's Music Festival shut down. Or are you an Apache attack copter, the kind that swoops down on womyn-born-womyn who are using the women's room and assaults them and drags them through public by their bra because their hair is too short.
  Or are you the kind of Apache attack copter who is SO FUCKING WILLFULLY IGNORANT that you have no idea how many men your fucking bathroom laws are forcing into the women's room when they don't want to be there but merely because THEY WERE BORN CISFEMALE YOU DIPSHIT AND CAN'T GET THE GENDER ON THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE CHANGED FROM FEMALE TO MALE!
  Go ahead you fucking feminist cunt. Go ahead you fucking Lyin' Ted supporter. Go ahead you fucking Apache attack copter. I don't give a shit which one of those three applies.
  Watch as somebody demonstrate HOW FUCKING STUPID YOU ARE by replying to me as though I was trying to sneak into women's rooms to swing my dick around.
  YOU PEOPLE ARE SO FUCKING IGNORANT AND STUPID. I would believe it was just Slashdot trolling, but when you have a feminist movement that's beside itself and blaming us invaders and rapists who wear woman suits when you fucking Apache attack copter hurt innocent womyn-born-womyn for using the same restroom they've used since they were little girls, when you have a presidential candidate that CAN'T BE ARSED TO EDUCATE HIMSELF, you are fucked.
  You are all well and fucked if Trump doesn't get into office. If it's Cruz, you are fucked. If it's Clinton or Romney, you are double fucked. And you'll never understand why.
  God, why do I even come here any more? After Clinton rams TPP/TTIP/TISA through, after the Western economy has completely collapsed and World War 3 is on the horizon, I don't care if you go on a killing spree against faggots like me. It won't fix your fucking stupidity. It won't fix your sheer dumbassness. It won't fix the country YOU rammed into the ground. I encourage you to do it so maybe I can apply for asylum in Canada or Germany.
15. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by halivar · 2016-05-02 08:50 · Score: 1
  
  If I had the points, I would mod you up simply for having the bravery to burn your own karma without using the AC checkbox. The change is actually refreshing.
16. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 08:52 · Score: 0
  
  Yes Yes Yes, All this PC BS needs to stop. Just like the outcry to stop Will Farrel's sketch about Reagan ... oh wait!
17. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by vel-ex-tech · 2016-05-02 14:45 · Score: 1
  
  Eh, I have my moments of rage, but I can't stop the coming storm. Actually I've been trying to log in for my most incendiary comments. Anybody can flame somebody else as AC.
  Nobody will listen, but there are larger things at stake here. But it's like when your attack in Monster Hunter and the attack just keeps deflecting from the monster and I stupidly keep pressing attack like that'll make a difference.
  TPP/TTIP/TISA is the New World Order they talked about on shortwave radio when I was a kid. Their [the militias'] only error was that Y2K wasn't the trigger. Heh, maybe John Titor solved it, maybe he didn't. Such a thing is improvable. It's a good story, though, and I love good stories.
  It's sad to know that I am now as much an enemy of feminism as I am of the militias. Eh, who cares. The only problem is that TPP/TTIP/TISA doesn't include BRICS. It's not such a World Order at that rate! But they'll die trying and take the rest with us.
  I guess my point is that let's angst about bathrooms while the lizard people fuck us over. The lizard people are very good that way. They've touched on a raw nerve. That mythical guy in a dress, I've seen him. He's not wearing a dress; he's wearing a miniskirt two sizes too small in 50 deg F weather with a stuffed bra. Couldn't even be bothered to endure a little physical pain as the breasts develop from buds with estrogen! At least he shaved his legs! Eh, I'm no good at fashion. I prefer cooking. But whatever. The lizard people have checkmate in 2 moves.
18. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by dave420 · 2016-05-02 21:32 · Score: 1
  
  Your joke at the expense of others says more about your disdain for your fellow humans than the "liberals" you are so angry with. Real people are having real problems with their lives, and here you are mocking them on Slashdot for yuks. I'd implore you to grow up, but it seems too late.
19. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-03 01:19 · Score: 0
  
  Can I get you a tissue, sweetie?
20. Re:But he IDENTIFIES as Satoshi by Shalhav · 2016-05-03 04:51 · Score: 0
  
  I offer to represent your $10,000,000 lawsuit for your hurt feelings and traumas that prevent you from being a success. Naturally, I get a 90% cut.
Already debunked by Troed · 2016-05-02 02:12 · Score: 5, Informative

So the big news of the day is that Bitcoin's creator has stepped forward.
Let's nip it in the bud. No, he has not. A con man who was already outed half a year ago has made an elaborate stunt to try to convince people he's Satoshi. The stunt was quickly debunked.
For the technically minded: A cryptographic signature of text A will not be the same as the signature of text B, even if you use the same key. The signature Craig Wright claims is of text B has been found to be a known signature in the Bitcoin blockchain of text A.
Craig Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto.
He's a con man: https://news.ycombinator.com/i...
Re-used signature: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitco...

--
it's in my head
1. Re:Already debunked by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:34 · Score: 0
  
  Just like Verbal Kint isn't Keyser Söze
2. Re:Already debunked by shawn2772 · 2016-05-02 03:04 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  The real Satoshi could trivially and indisputably prove his identity: Sign some message generated today with the key used to sign the genesis block.
  You know what would be awesome? To have an anonymous message show up on some online forum that says "Craight Wright is not Satoshi, and the May 2, 2016 opening prices of AAPL, INTC, GOOG and MSFT were $93.96, $30.45, $697.63 and $50.00, respectively", signed with the Bitcoin block 0 key.
3. Re:Already debunked by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 03:42 · Score: 0
  
  Well, if he's not the con man you claim him to be it would probably be in your best interest not to piss him off.
  Because if he has the root keys he could send the whole of Bitcoin in to the shitter by publishing said keys.. Effectively invalidating everything, making all BTC instantly worthless.
  And given the attitude of the Bitcoin loonies I've met, they may very well harass this man to the point where he feels like pissing in everyone's cornflakes.
  So you better hope he's a con man.
4. Re:Already debunked by cstdenis · 2016-05-02 03:58 · Score: 1
  
  It's a generally effective stunt because few few people actually try to verify signatures.
  https://xkcd.com/1181/
  
  --
  1984 was not supposed to be an instruction manual.
5. Re:Already debunked by firewrought · 2016-05-02 06:03 · Score: 1
  
  Last time somebody claimed to know the identity of Satoshi he posted a denial here after a 5 year hiatus. If Satoshi really wanted to reveal his identity, it would be strange for him not to make that claim on the P2PFoundation website (in addition to creating a technical proof).
  
  --
  -1, Too Many Layers Of Abstraction
6. Re:Already debunked by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 06:27 · Score: 0
  
  Yup, that would do it. Anyone claiming to be Satoshi and not signing a block-0 message is *not* Satoshi.
7. Re:Already debunked by Troed · 2016-05-02 07:09 · Score: 1
  
  "root keys" & "send Bitcoin to the shitter"
  I don't think you understand how Bitcoin works.
  
  --
  it's in my head
8. Re:Already debunked by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 08:03 · Score: 0
  
  Last time somebody claimed to know the identity of Satoshi he posted a denial here after a 5 year hiatus. If Satoshi really wanted to reveal his identity, it would be strange for him not to make that claim on the P2PFoundation website (in addition to creating a technical proof).
  Why? Satoshi strikes me as someone who is shrewd enough to take action if there is an advantage to it. White is making noise in the system, creating confusion all around. If he wants to remain anonymous than he is incentivized to not discredit him. And I imagine he wants to remain anonymous for tax reasons, so why discredit him at all?
  It serves White's crazy personality to make this claim by giving him celebrity. It serves Satoshi's purposes to let him have the celebrity so he can continue living the way he chooses.
Why now? by evolutionary · 2016-05-02 02:12 · Score: 1

It rather cool to be anonymous. Wonder why he's coming out. And how do we know it's really him?

--
"Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Einstein
No, I am Spartacus! by MrKaos · 2016-05-02 02:18 · Score: 2

-- digital signature follows jsdflkjjqweoieuwqejhgsaljkhgdlakjshdbn23492dlkfndkjhsadkjh --

--
My ism, it's full of beliefs.
I am by aglider · 2016-05-02 02:21 · Score: 1

You liar!

--
Sent as ripples into the electromagnetic field. No single photon has been harmed in the process.
prove it.. Make that genesis block move. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:29 · Score: 1

Prove it.. Make that genesis block move.
https://blockchain.info/block-index/14849
That is not Satoshi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:35 · Score: 2, Interesting

I've worked with Mr. Nakamoto before, and this fraud isn't it. Why people are so attracted to the spotlight they pull retarded stunts like this is something I will never understand.
Imposter by Buchenskjoll · 2016-05-02 02:37 · Score: 1

I am Satoshi and so is my wife!
We are also Charlie Hebdo and Sasha Fierce.

--
-- Make America hate again!
He certainly doesn't know much about SHA-256 by kill-1 · 2016-05-02 02:38 · Score: 5, Interesting

In his blog post, he writes:
"The SHA256 algorithm provides for a maximum message size of (2^128 - 1) bits of information whilst returning 32 bytes or 256 bits as an output value. The number of possible messages that can be input into the SHA256 hash function totals (2^128 - 1)! possible input values ranging in size from 0 bits through to the maximal acceptable range that we noted above."
There are two obvious errors in this paragraph. The maximum message size of SHA-256 is (2^64 - 1) bits and the total number possible input messages is (2^(2^64) - 1). I doubt that the inventor of Bitcoin would make such fundamental mistakes.
1. Re:He certainly doesn't know much about SHA-256 by Thud457 · 2016-05-02 02:54 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Ah, but aren't those just the kind of blatant mistakes Satoshi would make if he wanted to convince the world that he isn't Craig Wright?
  What better way to protect your anonymity than jump in the spotlight and play the buffoon so everybody ignores you?
  This guy's subtle.
  
  --
  the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
2. Re:He certainly doesn't know much about SHA-256 by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 06:25 · Score: 0
  
  How do you get the total number of possible input messages to 2^(2^64)-1 exactly? Break down a simple example of the total number of possible messages from 0 up to 8 bits.
3. Re:He certainly doesn't know much about SHA-256 by DrJimbo · 2016-05-02 15:49 · Score: 1
  
  How do you get the total number of possible input messages to 2^(2^64)-1 exactly? Break down a simple example of the total number of possible messages from 0 up to 8 bits.
  Satoshi-san, I think you are taking your buffoonery a bit too far here.
  
  --
  We don't see the world as it is, we see it as we are.
  -- Anais Nin
I'm Spartacus! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:44 · Score: 0

No, I'M Spartacus!
Mod parent rasist by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:46 · Score: 0

Mod rascist, this is pretty sick
1. Re:Mod parent rasist by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 03:54 · Score: 0
  
  Really? Questioning progressive dogma on race is now "racist"?
2. Re:Mod parent rasist by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 04:28 · Score: 0
  
  No, he said "rascist," which is discrimination against a Little Rascal.
I'm... by fbobraga · 2016-05-02 02:48 · Score: 1

Shatoshi Nakamoto!
1. Re:I'm... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:55 · Score: 0
  
  So am I!
2. Re:I'm... by wonkey_monkey · 2016-05-02 02:57 · Score: 2
  
  I'm Satoshi Nakamoto, and so's my wife!
  
  --
  systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
3. Re:I'm... by sinij · 2016-05-02 03:03 · Score: 1
  
  On the Internet, nobody knows you're a Satoshi Nakamoto.
I'm Satoshi and so's my wife by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 02:59 · Score: 0

And you! and you! Everyone is Satoshi!
But who is Becky with the good hair???? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 03:18 · Score: 0

That's what is really important!!!! (hence the exclamation marks!!!)
Good! by Tablizer · 2016-05-02 03:25 · Score: 1

...now we know who to blame

--
Table-ized A.I.
It should be easy by Lord+Duran · 2016-05-02 03:33 · Score: 1

Two cases:
Either Satoshi has his private keys from back then, or he doesn't.
If he has his private key, have him sign a message that reads "John R. Smith is Satoshi Nakamoto" with his private key.
If he doesn't, I say it doesn't matter who he is, his money isn't going anywhere.
moud down by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 03:37 · Score: -1

and exc1ting; year contract.
cat by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 03:37 · Score: 0

Sa-to-shi Na-ka-mo-to (do the math)
Bitcoin value by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 03:54 · Score: 0

As any fiction, a brittle cobweb of delusion is the vital source of Bitcoin's value.
Fair and balanced at its worst by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 03:55 · Score: 0

On the one hand a known scammer provided a bag of bytes that he claims proves he is Satoshi and some people who don't understand cryptography believed him. On the other hand everyone with the expertise to evaluate his "proof" that have examined it have conclusively determined its a sham.
I know this is slashdot and all but these "two sides" don't deserve equal time.
It's all about the taxes by bunyip · 2016-05-02 04:06 · Score: 1

Maybe he really *is* the founder of bitcoin, but claiming to be the founder in a way that everybody will debunk - thus the Australian tax authorities won't go after the half-billion dollars or so that he has in bitcoin?
A.
Satoshi has nothing to prove to you or others. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 04:06 · Score: 0

He/she has nothing to prove.
May or may not be. by squiggleslash · 2016-05-02 04:45 · Score: 1

On the one hand, if this apparent fraudster is Nakamoto, then this is hillarious. On the other hand, if this guy, who has apparently fooled at least two major figures in the BTC community, isn't, then this is hillarious.

--
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
Who cares? by Opportunist · 2016-05-02 05:16 · Score: 1

Seriously, why is that of any importance? Even if you use BitCoin, what does knowing who came up with it accomplish?

--
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
1. Re:Who cares? by UnknownSoldier · 2016-05-02 06:32 · Score: 1
  
  > what does knowing who came up with it accomplish?
  If someone at M$, the FBI, or Never-A-Straight-Answer had invented it then it would be looked at as extremely suspicious and an alternatively would have extremely high motivation.
  But you're right -- it is probably over-reacting.
  Why is knowing who invented the wheel important? It isn't.
2. Re:Who cares? by ledow · 2016-05-02 07:29 · Score: 1
  
  This guy holds more Bitcoin that anyone else.
  If he's forced to sell it by a court, or decides to flog it off of his own will, that will bring the price of Bitcoin right down.
  And if he is "the creator", then he's a clever guy (or those that he hired were). Nobody's yet found a flaw in Bitcoin that allows anyone to steal protected money (stupid auto-generated accounts and crap passwords don't count), or falsify the blockchain.
No, I am Spartacus! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 05:36 · Score: 0

-- digital signature follows jsdflkjjqweoieuwqejhgsalsdfdfsdfsdfsdfaasfdasfdsafd --
(And so's my wife)
Re:prove it.. Make that genesis block move. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 06:05 · Score: 1

Please prepare to deliver Genesis to us upon our arrival. Reliant out.
The whole website by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 06:17 · Score: 0

with pictures of his suave-looking persona in every article, sort of tells that he wants attention more than anything. I don't think he's Satoshi. Will there be a 3rd attempt at convincing people? He should go pick up women instead, he looks like he could pull that off at least.
It's time to come out. by AgNO3 · 2016-05-02 06:29 · Score: 1

It's time to reveal to the world that I invented Craig Wright from the left over hot air in making my Silver Nitrate for my alias.

--
OMG Ponies!!! with Glitter!!!! I miss Pink :-(
I am not sparticus, but I play him on TV by TiggertheMad · 2016-05-02 06:37 · Score: 1

Ah, but aren't those just the kind of blatant mistakes Satoshi would make if he wanted to convince the world that he isn't Craig Wright?

What better way to protect your anonymity than jump in the spotlight and play the buffoon so everybody ignores you?

This guy's subtle.

That EXACTLY the sort of thing that Satoshi would post to make us think that Craig is actually Satoshi, and further obfuscate his real identity.

Well played, Mr Satoshi. Well played.

--

HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
Satoshi Nakamoto Lost the Key by rjstegbauer · 2016-05-02 06:46 · Score: 2

Wouldn't it be really really funny if Satoshi Nakamoto *lost* his key to all of his bit coins?
1. Re:Satoshi Nakamoto Lost the Key by DanielRavenNest · 2016-05-02 11:42 · Score: 1
  
  It's not one key. It's 20,000 different keys, one for each block he generated in the early days, each with 50 BTC. Given how careful he was in creating bitcoin in the first place, it would be highly unlikely he kept all his keys in one place that could be lost, unless he "lost" them on purpose.
2. Re:Satoshi Nakamoto Lost the Key by Gussington · 2016-05-02 17:19 · Score: 1
  
  one for each block he generated... ... Given how careful he was... ... it would be highly unlikely he kept... ...all his keys... ...unless he "lost" them...
  For someone supposedly anonymous, you've made a rather large assumption there.
3. Re:Satoshi Nakamoto Lost the Key by rjstegbauer · 2016-05-03 00:37 · Score: 1
  
  The keys shouldn't be stored on any device like a hard drive or thumb drive, since those can fail.
  I would print out all of the keys on paper. Now would you store copies of the keys in more than one place, balancing the probabilities of them being lost verses being stolen?
  And now he is lucky that he never intends to spend any of them. Managing those keys across multiple sites would be tedious.
  Or maybe I haven't thought about it enough.
Re-hardnessing power by phorm · 2016-05-02 07:23 · Score: 1

Yes, but they're working on devices to generate power via kinetic energy. That means they'll reclaim all that and more within the next few years...
Hmm by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 09:32 · Score: 1

I have it on pretty good authority that the real Satoshi Nakamoto is actually a half-Malaysian, half-Chinese guy born in the UK and has been living in Japan for about 20 years now.
If it's true, he is a very smart guy and owns a business for fun in Japan currently. He's also worked for Microsoft and Amazon. His real initials are D.C.
I'm sure Googling based on that can pinpoint it. But yeah, I hope one day before I die that the world figures out who the real genius behind BitCoin is.
shouldn't we be looking for a Japanese guy? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 10:46 · Score: 0

In case he is hiding in plain sight
Re:prove it.. Make that genesis block move. by DanielRavenNest · 2016-05-02 11:36 · Score: 1

For technical reasons, the coins in Block 0 (zero) can't be spent (moved).
obligatory Simspons quote by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 12:19 · Score: 0

"Yes, er I did the iggy"
Re: prove it.. Make that genesis block move. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-02 15:49 · Score: 0

Explain why (handwaving 'technical reasons' doesn't work on a site full of technical geniuses) or GTFO.