The dust has finally cleared around Craig Wright’s public claim that he was Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s enigmatic creator. After publicly coming out and presenting evidence to the media, this was quickly dismissed as dubiously insufficient proof. Wright then promised to provide irrefutable proof by moving some of the first Bitcoin ever mined, which was met with much doubt and derision. Finally, he bailed on his promise to provide the undeniable proof, disappearing into the night with a vague and cryptic apology .
Where does that leave us? Craig Wright is very likely not Satoshi Nakamoto. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t right to disappear as he did, and it certainly doesn’t mean we have nothing learn from his untimely departure from the limelight. Here’s why the real Satoshi Nakamoto should absolutely stay out of public. The resulting media circus
Wright’s announcement was followed by a veritable torrent of publicity, as was surely his original goal. With it came intense scrutiny as writers and pundits the world over speculated, gossipped, and attempted to disprove the claim. Any further attempt by anyone else to claim the mantle of the legendary Nakamoto will be sure to trigger a similar media circus, forever shattering any hope of privacy. Instant vilification
The aftermath of Wright’s announcement produced a significant dose of vitriol from the cryptocurrency community. While his promises to definitely prove his secret identity by moving Bitcoin from some of the first blocks were still pending, Wright was assailed with accusations of being a liar, a fraud, and a con-man. While these condemnations ultimately found themselves on the side of reason, they were nonetheless both plentiful and harsh. Bitcoin Core developer Wladimir van der Laan wrote a blog post condemning the “atmospheric toxicity” of the cryptocurrency community, while Gavin Andresen (who had himself been […]
