Finding Satoshi
Craig Stevens Wright has launched the bitcoin community into full tinfoil hat conspiracy mode. First he dropped the bombshell that he is Satoshi (article in The Economist magazine). He convinced Jon Matonis and Gavin Andresen. He announced that he will be moving some of Satoshi's coins. Then he reneged on that pledge. Then he effectively pledged to disappear.
The questions now would be, "Is he Satoshi and what's next?"
As far as being Satoshi, I was convinced before I was unconvinced. Since he convinced Gavin, one of the most respected, and sane, people in Bitcoin, that was good enough for me. When he pledged to move Satoshi coins, I figured he must be legit. This would be proof positive for most mortals. Then he hedged and said moving the coins would take a few days since they were in a "trust." Hmm. When he said he could not in fact move those coins, that was a deal-breaker.
Thinking it through, he either is or he's not, of course. If he is, why would he have reneged on that pledge? Decided he didn't want the further scrutiny? Threats? Lost the private keys and just can't do it? If he's not Satoshi, then he's attempted to pull a Clifford Irving. And why not? Clifford Irving saw an angle into notoriety by "interviewing" the legendarily secretive Howard Hughes back in the 1970s. Satoshi Nakamoto is even more secretive—a perfect subject to interview, er, become.
By suddenly going dark, Wright, if not Satoshi, may well have won at the hoax game. The logic would be that he'd convinced two well-known Bitcoin advocates, then could not provide further proof, then claim the pressure is too overwhelming, then vanishes. Vanishing, and claiming to not care if anyone believes up one side or down the other, affords the perfect out. The book and movie will be coming out soon.
Originally published on http://satoshitimes.wikidot.com
May 5, 2016
LINK: http://satoshitimes.wikidot.com/blog:17
Although dated, this is being posted here on the Hive blockchain so that it's archived.
