Adam Back & Satoshi FAQ

Adam Back has categorically denied being Satoshi Nakamoto on multiple occasions, including in a BBC interview following the NYT investigation. While the investigation found linguistic similarities, no definitive cryptographic proof has been presented.

The New York Times used stylometric analysis — a technique that compares writing styles — to find similarities between Adam Back's early cypherpunk mailing list posts and Satoshi Nakamoto's emails and forum posts.

Satoshi Nakamoto is estimated to own approximately 1.1 million Bitcoin, worth tens of billions of dollars, mined during the network's first two years. These coins have never moved.

Hashcash is a proof-of-work algorithm invented by Adam Back in 1997. It was adapted by Satoshi Nakamoto to secure the Bitcoin network and is cited in the Bitcoin whitepaper.

Other major candidates include Hal Finney, Nick Szabo, and Len Sassaman. Many other theories have been debunked over the years.