Introduction
The newly launched documentary, “Finding Satoshi,” has sparked significant discussion within the cryptocurrency community. While many view it as a groundbreaking examination into the identity of Bitcoin’s enigmatic creator, Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream and a notable figure in the Bitcoin space, has raised objections to its claims. He describes the film’s conclusions as perplexing and internally inconsistent.
The Documentary’s Claims
Over the course of four years, directors Tucker Tooley and Matthew Miele crafted their narrative around the assertion that the name Satoshi Nakamoto is not associated with a single person but rather with two influential cypherpunks: Hal Finney and Len Sassaman. The documentary attributes specific contributions to both men; Finney, who passed away in 2014, is depicted as the coder, while Sassaman, who died in 2011, is claimed to have laid the theoretical groundwork, including the notorious Bitcoin whitepaper.
The creators support their theory with circumstantial evidence, notably linguistic analyses that suggest similarities to Sassaman’s British English, their collaborative efforts on PGP, and the nature of their online interactions.
Criticism from Adam Back
Back, previously named by The New York Times in April as a top candidate for Satoshi—a label he firmly rejects—has articulated strong criticism of the so-called “Sassaman-Finney theory.” Central to his argument are the discrepancies arising from geographic and temporal factors. Sassaman resided in Belgium during crucial periods of Bitcoin’s inception, immersed in doctoral studies at KU Leuven. Back highlights that the timing of Satoshi’s posts conflicts with Sassaman’s schedule, thus casting doubt on the documentary’s premise.
“The film dismissed anyone in Europe due to the timing of forum posts. Given that Len was in Europe, working on a PhD from 2004 until his passing, how could he have been responsible for last-minute updates?”
Moreover, Back argues that if Sassaman were the primary author, the timeline of events—such as instances when Finney participated in activities like marathons while Satoshi was engaging online—would invalidate the theory of joint authorship. He asserts that Finney’s role was purely as the initial user and tester of the Bitcoin software and not as a co-creator.
Endorsements and Reception
Despite Back’s critical stance, the documentary has garnered endorsements from other prominent industry leaders. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong hailed it as “the most thorough investigation on the subject,” while entrepreneur Mark Cuban lauded the film for its quality and intellectual stimulation.
