Putting years of speculations to rest, Craig Wright, an Australian businessman, has identified himself as Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of the world’s most important digital cryptocurrency Bitcoin.
According to the BBC, Wright revealed his identity to three publications- the BBC, the Economist and GQ- and backed his claim with technical proof. His claim was also confirmed by “prominent members of the Bitcoin community and its core development team”.
The BBC report states, “Mr Wright digitally signed messages using cryptographic keys created during the early days of Bitcoin's development. The keys are inextricably linked to blocks of bitcoins known to have been created or "mined" by Satoshi Nakamoto.”
"These are the blocks used to send 10 bitcoins to Hal Finney in January [2009] as the first bitcoin transaction," Wright told BBC in a meeting.
Rounding up the several theories that have been floating around over the anonymity of Bitcoin's creators, David Glance last year wrote, "Probably the most intriguing question, however, and possibly the motive behind the interest by the media, is the whereabouts of one million Bitcoins that Satoshi Nakamoto is reported to have access to... Another question that has been raised in regard to the Bitcoins, and in particular the idea that Australian businessman Craig S Wright could have been Satoshi Nakamoto, has been the possibility that this was what motivated the Australian Tax Office to ask police to raid his home and office."
But, is Wright really Nakamoto?
The Economist reported, “Our conclusion is that he could well be Mr Nakamoto, but that nagging questions remain. In fact, it may never be possible to prove beyond reasonable doubt who really created bitcoin. Whether people, particularly bitcoin cognoscenti, actually believe Mr Wright will depend greatly on what he does next, after going public.”
Wright however told the BBC that he revealed his identity not out of choice and that he is not seeking publicity.
"I really do not want to be the public face of anything. I would rather not do it. I want to work, I want to keep doing what I want to do. I don't want money. I don't want fame. I don't want adoration. I just want to be left alone," the computer scientist told the BBC.
What is a Bitcoin?
According to this The Conversation report, "Bitcoin is first and foremost a currency like any other. One Bitcoin can be exchanged for almost every other type of currency, on any number of “exchanges”.
Once a Bitcoin is bought, it can be used to buy goods at a price in Bitcoins that is determined by the current exchange rate quoted on the various exchange markets. This is no different to using Australian dollars or Euros to buy things on the Internet priced in US dollars say."
Currently, each Bitcoin is worth about $449 (£306).
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