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Enigmatic Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto discovered in California?
C/NET ^ | 03/06/2014 | by Don Reisinger

Posted on 03/06/2014 9:48:17 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto might have been discovered, despite his best efforts to maintain anonymity over the last several years. Newsweek reported Thursday that it spent considerable time tracking down the father of Bitcoin, only to discover that he might be living in Temple City, Calif.

It took a winding road to reach a 64-year-old man named Satoshi Nakamoto who not only had no desire to speak with Newsweek, but called the police on its reporter. When the police arrived, Nakamoto -- who Newsweek had been contacting and trying to track down for weeks -- finally had something to say.

"I am no longer involved in [Bitcoin] and I cannot discuss it," he reportedly told Newsweek. "It's been turned over to other people. They are in charge of it now. I no longer have any connection."

According to Newsweek, the man who spoke in front of police that day lives in a modest home in California, despite holding $400 million worth of bitcoins. Newsweek described the man as "wearing a rumpled T-shirt, old blue jeans and white gym socks, without shoes, like he has left the house in a hurry."

Nakamoto has become a household name in technology circles, due mainly to the increasing popularity of Bitcoin. Although he's generally believed to be the father of the cryptocurrency, he has never actually revealed himself. What's worse, Satoshi Nakamoto is a somewhat common name, according to Newsweek, further complicating matters of identification.

Even so, as Newsweek continued to investigate this man in California, the more the puzzle pieces seemed to fall into place. Nakamoto is known as a genius among family members -- all of whom had no idea he might have been involved in the creation of Bitcoin -- and seems to have the requisite skills to develop the cryptocurrency, graduating from California State Polytechnic University with a degree in physics. He also worked in security and communications for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Still, the Newsweek piece makes clear that the man identified in California may not in fact be the person behind Bitcoin. There are, after all, people who have claimed to be the real Nakamoto in Japan. There's also the possibility that Satoshi Nakamoto is not the real name of Bitcoin's founder.

So, what's the true story? At the end of the day, no one knows. But it appears possible that the Nakamoto in California is the Nakamoto who started Bitcoin.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Society
KEYWORDS: australia; bitcoin; craigswright; craigwright; cryptocurrency; japan; nakamoto; satoshi; satoshinakamoto

1 posted on 03/06/2014 9:48:17 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

I’m the true Satoshi Nakamoto. Just sayin’...


2 posted on 03/06/2014 9:50:18 AM PST by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: Drango

3 posted on 03/06/2014 9:53:44 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Maybe he is virtual, like his money...


4 posted on 03/06/2014 9:54:54 AM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: Resolute Conservative

He reacted like a real white collar criminal would if they were being asked about how they set up the Ponzi scheme out of thin air.


5 posted on 03/06/2014 10:17:41 AM PST by jsanders2001
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To: SeekAndFind

Maybe I should cut up a bunch of copier paper and call ‘em Bitslips.


6 posted on 03/06/2014 10:19:10 AM PST by onedoug
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To: Drango

“To Tell the Truth”

Will the real Satoshi Nakamoto, please stand up.


7 posted on 03/06/2014 10:28:40 AM PST by Zeneta (Thoughts in time and out of season.)
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To: SeekAndFind

As the inventor of CatnipManCoin, I’m in Colorado in case anyone needs to track me down.


8 posted on 03/06/2014 11:31:27 AM PST by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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