Satoshi Nakamoto is the pseudonymous figure or group credited with creating Bitcoin, the first cryptocurrency, and authoring its foundational whitepaper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System,” published in 2008. Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin as a decentralized digital currency that operates without a central authority, relying instead on blockchain technology—a distributed ledger system that ensures secure and transparent transactions. Nakamoto’s true identity remains one of the greatest mysteries in the tech and financial world, with speculation about whether Nakamoto is an individual or a group of people.

Nakamoto’s involvement in the early development of Bitcoin was significant. They mined the first-ever block of Bitcoin, known as the genesis block, in January 2009, marking the birth of the cryptocurrency. Nakamoto remained active in the development community, communicating with other developers through online forums and emails, until they gradually faded from public involvement around 2010. By then, Bitcoin had begun gaining traction, and Nakamoto entrusted key members of the community to continue its development.

Despite numerous attempts to uncover Nakamoto’s identity, no conclusive evidence has emerged. Some speculate that Nakamoto could be a well-known cryptographer or a group of developers. The anonymity surrounding Nakamoto adds an intriguing layer to Bitcoin’s history, and to this day, Nakamoto is believed to hold around 1 million Bitcoins, which, depending on market prices, could be worth billions of dollars. Yet, those funds remain untouched, further fueling speculation about Nakamoto’s true motives and identity. HBO is releasing a new documentary to unveil the identity of the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto.