New York Times Claims to Identify Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto

Investigative reporter John Carreyrou believes British cryptographer Adam Back is the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto, but Back denies the claims.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:12pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a complex circuit board or server hardware, with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the intricate digital infrastructure, conceptually representing the hidden, technical foundations powering the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.The mysterious origins of Bitcoin's creator Satoshi Nakamoto continue to captivate the crypto community, as the search for the elusive individual behind the digital currency's invention intensifies.NYC Today

The New York Times has published an investigative report claiming to have identified the creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, as British cryptographer Adam Back. Reporter John Carreyrou analyzed a trove of emails written by Nakamoto and found numerous similarities in writing style and background to Back, a self-avowed Cypherpunk who had previously proposed a digital cash system called Hashcash. However, Back has repeatedly denied being Nakamoto, stating that he believes it's good for Bitcoin that the creator's identity remains unknown.

Why it matters

The identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, has been a mystery since the cryptocurrency's inception in 2008. Unmasking Nakamoto could have significant implications, as the person is believed to hold a massive stockpile of Bitcoin worth billions of dollars today. The report also sheds light on the early Cypherpunk movement that influenced the development of Bitcoin.

The details

In his investigation, Carreyrou analyzed emails written by Nakamoto and found numerous overlaps with Back's background and writing style. Both were part of the Cypherpunk movement, advocated for digital cash systems, and used similar phrasing. Carreyrou enlisted a forensic linguistics expert who found the writing patterns were a close match. However, Back has denied the claims numerous times, stating that while he was early in researching related technologies, he does not know Nakamoto's true identity.

  • The New York Times published the investigative report on April 9, 2026.
  • Back issued his latest denial on the same day as the report's publication.

The players

Satoshi Nakamoto

The mysterious creator of Bitcoin, whose true identity has remained unknown since the cryptocurrency's inception in 2008.

Adam Back

A British cryptographer who was an early proponent of digital cash systems and a member of the Cypherpunk movement. The New York Times report claims he is likely the real Satoshi Nakamoto.

John Carreyrou

The investigative reporter for The New York Times who conducted the investigation and believes he has identified Satoshi Nakamoto as Adam Back.

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What they’re saying

“i'm not satoshi, but I was early in laser focus on the positive societal implications of cryptography, online privacy and electronic cash, hence my ~1992 onwards active interest in applied research on ecash, privacy tech on cypherpunks list which led to hashcash and other ideas.”

— Adam Back

“I also don't know who satoshi is, and i think it is good for bitcoin that this is the case, as it helps bitcoin be viewed a new asset class, the mathematically scarce digital commodity.”

— Adam Back

What’s next

The New York Times report has reignited the long-running mystery around Satoshi Nakamoto's identity. It remains to be seen if further evidence or analysis will emerge to conclusively identify the Bitcoin creator.

The takeaway

The persistent mystery around Satoshi Nakamoto's identity highlights the powerful role anonymity can play in the development of transformative technologies like Bitcoin. While unmasking the creator could have significant implications, many in the crypto community believe preserving Nakamoto's anonymity is ultimately beneficial for Bitcoin's growth and perception as a new asset class.