Blockstream CEO Adam Back Rejects 'Finding Satoshi' Documentary Claims

Blockstream CEO Adam Back has rejected the central claim of the documentary 'Finding Satoshi,' which suggests that Bitcoin was created jointly by Hal Finney and Len Sassaman. The film, released on April 22, is based on a four-year investigation by New York Times bestselling author William D. Cohan and private investigator Tyler Maroney.

Back argued that the theory is contradictory because it places Sassaman in Belgium from 2004 until his death in July 2011, while also crediting him as the author of the nine-page Bitcoin white paper. He stated that this self-contradiction undermines the film's logic.

Back also pointed out that Hal Finney's role was likely that of an early user and bug reporter, not a co-creator. He noted that New York Times reporter Nathaniel Popper met Finney in person and reviewed his emails and wallet without finding any evidence of co-authorship.

The documentary has sparked a broader question about the roughly 1 million BTC attributed to Satoshi, which remains untouched in wallets with no known heir for over a decade. This has led to discussions about quantum computing risks and potential measures to address them.