Key Points
- Polymarket betting odds suggest Nick Szabo as a leading candidate for the identity of Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto.
- A forthcoming HBO documentary on Nakamoto has sparked renewed debate and speculation about the identity of Bitcoin’s creator.
The ongoing debate over the true identity of Bitcoin’s founder, Satoshi Nakamoto, has taken a new turn. According to recent betting odds on Polymarket, Nick Szabo, a computer scientist and cryptography expert, has emerged as a strong contender.
This development comes just days before the release of an HBO documentary about Nakamoto, set to air on October 9 at 2:00 am UTC. The general consensus appears to be that Szabo may be the most probable person behind Bitcoin, having now surpassed the previous frontrunner, Len Sassaman.
The Impact of the HBO Documentary on Speculation
The upcoming documentary has already stirred up significant conversation about Nakamoto’s true identity. The documentary’s producer, Cullen Hoback, has further fueled speculation by claiming that he has confronted the real Satoshi in person.
Hoback’s assertion, made during an appearance on CNN on October 7, has heightened anticipation for the documentary. Observers are eager to see what revelations, if any, the documentary will provide.
As for betting odds, Len Sassaman, a cryptographer who passed away in 2011, previously led with a 68% probability. However, following Hoback’s recent statements and Sassaman’s widow’s claim that HBO never approached her, Sassaman’s odds have plummeted to around 14%.
Conversely, the odds for Szabo being Nakamoto have soared, standing at 27.9% on Polymarket at the time of publication. Despite this, Szabo has consistently denied being Bitcoin’s elusive founder, but his past work in digital currencies makes him a plausible candidate.
Other Contenders for the Identity of Satoshi Nakamoto
While Szabo currently leads the speculation, several other prominent figures are still in the running. These include Adam Back, Hal Finney, and Paul Le Roux, a controversial programmer currently serving time in prison.
With only a few hours left before the documentary’s official release, it remains to be seen whether HBO has conducted a comprehensive investigation to uncover Nakamoto’s true identity.
Regardless of the documentary’s revelations, many believe that only an announcement from Satoshi himself could provide definitive proof of his identity.
