New Evidence Suggests Jack Dorsey May Be Bitcoin’s Satoshi Nakamoto, Claims Analyst

A new theory has emerged linking Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter (now X) and digital payment firm Square, to the elusive creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. In a February 15 post on X, Seán Murray, the president and chief editor of deBanked, presented compelling evidence he believes connects Dorsey to Bitcoin's creation. Murray’s claims have reignited the long-standing mystery of Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity and sparked heated debate within the crypto community.

The Theory: Jack Dorsey as Satoshi Nakamoto

Murray, who has spent considerable time researching the origins of Bitcoin, suggests that Dorsey might be the pseudonymous figure behind Bitcoin's creation. Although Dorsey has repeatedly denied being Satoshi, stating in a 2020 interview with podcaster Lex Fridman, "No, and if I were, would I tell you?" Murray argues that Dorsey’s history and involvement in the cypherpunk movement point to a possible connection to Bitcoin's mysterious creator.

According to Murray, Dorsey demonstrated cypherpunk tendencies as early as 1996 while studying computer science. He notes Dorsey’s interest in cryptography, citing his public association with Adam Back, the inventor of Hashcash, and Dorsey’s 2001 manifesto that discussed leaving a mark in the world without leaving a trace, a sentiment reminiscent of the ethos behind Bitcoin.

Key Evidence Linking Dorsey to Bitcoin’s Creation

Murray highlights a series of intriguing coincidences and patterns linking Dorsey to Bitcoin’s earliest days. One of the most notable observations involves the timing of Bitcoin’s first transaction. According to Murray, the first Bitcoin transaction occurred on January 11—Dorsey’s mother’s birthday. In another uncanny coincidence, the last block mined by Satoshi, considered to be Bitcoin’s creator, took place on March 5, 2010—Dorsey’s father’s birthday.

Additionally, Murray claims that Satoshi signed up to the Bitcoin forum on November 19, Dorsey’s birthday. He also points to the consistent timestamp of 4 AM on the original Bitcoin source code documents, a time Dorsey had previously used in his Twitter profile.

Further fueling the speculation, Murray mentions that Satoshi used a Bitcoin address starting with “jD2m,” which he interprets as “Jack Dorsey 2 Mint,” referencing Dorsey’s former residence at 2 Mint Plaza in San Francisco. However, Dorsey has not commented on these claims.

A Hacker’s Leak and Potential Connection to St. Louis

Murray also raises the possibility that an email hack in 2014 may have inadvertently revealed Satoshi’s location. After the “GMX” email associated with Satoshi was hacked on September 8, 2014, the hacker allegedly tried to extort Satoshi by revealing that he knew Satoshi was connected to St. Louis, Missouri—Dorsey’s hometown.

In addition to this, Murray speculates that Satoshi’s accidental login to an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) on January 10, 2009, revealed a real IP address based in California, where Twitter was based and where Dorsey spent much of his career.

The WikiLeaks Connection

Another point in Murray’s theory involves the infamous WikiLeaks controversy. On December 5, 2010, Satoshi publicly discouraged Bitcoin donations to WikiLeaks on the Bitcoin forum. Nine days later, Twitter, which Dorsey was involved with at the time, was hit with a secret court order demanding it turn over all information on WikiLeaks.

Interestingly, Murray claims that Satoshi last logged into the Bitcoin forum on December 13, the day before the court order was issued, further linking Dorsey’s involvement with the events surrounding WikiLeaks.

Criticism and Skepticism from the Crypto Community

While Murray’s theory has gained attention, it has also faced substantial criticism. Many in the crypto community have dismissed the claims as speculative, with some arguing that the evidence is not definitive. Jameson Lopp, a prominent Bitcoin cypherpunk, criticized Murray for making unsupported accusations without concrete proof. In a February 2024 post on X, Lopp remarked, "Even if that person is dead, you’re endangering their family."

Additionally, critics have pointed out that Satoshi’s vision for uncensored, decentralized money contrasts with Dorsey’s actions as the head of Twitter, which has faced criticism for censoring content under government pressure. Dorsey himself has not addressed Murray’s claims or denied any of the points raised in the posts.

A Growing Mystery: Satoshi’s Identity

Murray’s claims come amid ongoing speculation about the identity of Bitcoin’s creator. Over the years, various individuals, including Hal Finney, Adam Back, and Nick Szabo, have been suggested as possible candidates for Satoshi Nakamoto. Most recently, in late 2023, HBO’s Cullen Hoback proposed a theory involving Canadian computer scientist Peter Todd, which was largely dismissed by the crypto community.

As the mystery surrounding Satoshi Nakamoto persists, Murray’s theory adds a new layer to the ongoing debate. Whether or not Dorsey is truly the mastermind behind Bitcoin, his deep involvement in crypto space and longstanding advocacy for Bitcoin have certainly fueled these speculative connections. However, without concrete proof, the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in the crypto world.