Satoshi Nakamoto
Born 1975 · Age 50
Pseudonymous author and developer of Bitcoin; published the Bitcoin white paper (2008), implemented Bitcoin software (2009), devised the first blockchain, and mined the earliest bitcoins. True identity remains unknown.
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Life & Career Timeline
Began writing Bitcoin code (development phase)
Satoshi said writing bitcoin's code began in Q2 2007; roughly 18 months of development preceded the white paper.
Registered bitcoin.org domain
Domain bitcoin.org was registered (by Satoshi or a colleague), and a website was created to host Bitcoin resources.
Published the Bitcoin white paper
Published 'Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System' to the Cryptography Mailing List (metzdowd.com), introducing Bitcoin and blockchain concepts.
White paper shared on cryptography mailing list (metzdowd.com)
The white paper was posted to the Cryptography Mailing List at metzdowd.com (date commonly cited as 31 Oct; a follow-up posting occurred in November 2008).
Large early mining (Satoshi-era miner accumulation)
Analysis of the early blockchain suggests a single miner (widely attributed to Satoshi) accumulated hundreds of thousands to about one million BTC by mining in 2009.
Mined Bitcoin Genesis block (block 0)
Defined the genesis block (block 0); embedded The Times headline 'The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks' in the coinbase transaction.
Released Bitcoin v0.1 on SourceForge
Released the first reference implementation of Bitcoin (version 0.1) and launched the network software publicly on SourceForge.
Sent first Bitcoin transaction (to Hal Finney)
Satoshi sent 10 BTC to developer Hal Finney — the first recorded bitcoin transaction between two people on the network.
Founded Bitcointalk.org forum
Satoshi created and/or established Bitcointalk.org (2010) as a principal discussion hub for Bitcoin development and community building.
Proposed an initial Bitcoin logo
Satoshi proposed the '₿' symbol and participated in discussion about Bitcoin's visual identity.
Transferred repository and keys to Gavin Andresen (handover)
Around mid‑2010 Satoshi began stepping back: he gave control of the source code repository and the network alert key to Gavin Andresen and transferred related domains to prominent community members.
Community proposed orange Bitcoin logo
Pseudonymous community member 'Bitboy' proposed the orange '₿' logo that became the common emblem of Bitcoin.
Last forum/blog post (Bitcointalk)
Satoshi's last public forum post on Bitcointalk.org (a final blog-style post) was recorded; activity then tailed off toward disappearance.
Community takeover of development
After Satoshi's withdrawal, Bitcoin development continued under Gavin Andresen and later a wider open-source community; Bitcoin grew into a community-run project.
Len Sassaman memorial embedded in blockchain (memorial testimonial)
A testimonial in honor of cypherpunk Len Sassaman was permanently embedded into the Bitcoin blockchain (discussed publicly at Black Hat 2011).
Community mechanisms to prove identity proposed
Community repeatedly proposed methods by which Satoshi could prove identity (e.g., moving early-mined coins or signing messages with Satoshi keys); Satoshi never performed these.
Sent final known email stating 'moved on to other things'
In an email to developer Mike Hearn (and messages to Gavin Andresen), Satoshi wrote he had 'moved on to other things' and effectively left public development.
New Yorker profile that narrowed suspects
Joshua Davis (The New Yorker) published investigative reporting (2011) that narrowed likely candidates and elevated public interest in Satoshi's identity.
P2P Foundation profile archived (claimed DOB)
Satoshi's P2P Foundation profile (archived) listed a birthdate of 5 April 1975 and claimed to be a 37‑year‑old man living in Japan — likely a pseudonymous or symbolic entry.
Sergio Demian Lerner analysis (mining attribution)
Analyses (notably by Sergio Demian Lerner) suggested Satoshi's early mining pattern and estimated that the Satoshi-era miner(s) mined around ~968,000 BTC in 2009.
Dorit Ron & Adi Shamir transaction-network analysis and retraction
A 2013 paper by Ron and Shamir linked Satoshi to Ross Ulbricht via transaction analysis; the authors later retracted their claim.
Primary implementation renamed 'Bitcoin Core'
The primary Bitcoin implementation (reference client) was renamed Bitcoin Core (transition during 2013) and development increasingly moved to GitHub.
Stylometric claim linking Nick Szabo
December 2013 stylometric analyses (blog posts by Skye Grey and others) linked Nick Szabo to the white paper; Szabo denied being Satoshi.
Doxxing and intense media attention following Newsweek
After Newsweek named Dorian Nakamoto the alleged creator, media attention escalated (reporters camped near his house, high-profile denials followed).
Newsweek identifies Dorian Nakamoto (false positive)
Newsweek ran a high‑profile story naming Dorian Prentice Satoshi Nakamoto; the story provoked major media attention and Dorian and Satoshi's P2P account denied the claim.
Hal Finney died (relevant candidate event)
Hal Finney, an early Bitcoin contributor and first recipient of Satoshi's transaction, died (Finney had been a prominent Satoshi candidate during investigations).
P2P Foundation account compromised claim
Months after the Newsweek event the P2P Foundation account posted a message claiming it had been hacked, casting doubt on earlier denial posts and adding to the mystery.
Wired article on Craig Wright (claim emerges)
Wired published reporting on Craig Steven Wright that either he invented Bitcoin or perpetrated an elaborate hoax; Wright later claimed to be Satoshi, a claim widely disputed.
Craig Wright registered US copyright for Bitcoin white paper and code
Wright's team registered copyright claims in the US for the Bitcoin white paper and Bitcoin 0.1 code; the US Copyright Office clarified registration is not proof of authorship.
Craig Wright sues deniers under English libel law
Wright began using English defamation/libel law to sue people who denied he was Satoshi, marking a period of aggressive legal claims.
Estimate of Satoshi's holdings (widely cited range)
By 2021 analysts estimated Satoshi owned between ~750,000 and 1,100,000 BTC; when BTC exceeded $68,000 in Nov 2021, Satoshi's stake was valued up to ~$73 billion.
Bust/statue of Satoshi installed in Budapest
A public bust/statue commemorating Satoshi Nakamoto was installed in Budapest, Hungary, reflecting Satoshi's cultural impact.
Book: 'The Mysterious Mr. Nakamoto' (research prominence)
Benjamin Wallace's investigative book (released March 2025 in some markets; research and reporting activity grew in prior years) renewed mainstream interest in Satoshi's identity.
UK High Court rules Craig Wright is not Satoshi (COPA case)
In March 2024 Judge James Mellor ruled Wright was not the author of the Bitcoin white paper nor the person behind the Satoshi persona; the written judgment was released 20 May 2024.
Written judgment published (Judge James Mellor)
The court's written judgment (20 May 2024) stated evidence supporting Wright's claim were forgeries and that Wright had lied to the court.
HBO documentary 'Money Electric' alleges Peter Todd link
Cullen Hoback's HBO documentary (premiered Oct 2024) presented a theory implicating developer Peter Todd as Satoshi; Todd denied the claim.
Investopedia notes Genesis address has ~100 BTC (donations)
Investopedia reported on Oct 3, 2024 that the Genesis (unspendable) address held a little more than 100 BTC (community donations), emphasizing other Satoshi-era addresses remain untouched.
Craig Wright sentenced for contempt (UK)
Wright was sentenced in the UK to one year in prison suspended for two years for contempt of court related to his £911bn lawsuit against Block, Inc.
80,000 BTC moved from dormant 'Satoshi-era' wallets
Blockchain analysts observed ~80,000 BTC (mined in 2011 and dormant for 14+ years) moved to modern addresses; the largest transfer of its kind and sparked speculation about Satoshi or custodians acting.
Estimated value of Satoshi holdings at peak 2025 BTC price
At BTC price > $123,000 on July 14, 2025, Satoshi's estimated ~1.1M BTC stash was valued at nearly $135 billion (widely reported figure).
Key Achievement Ages
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