HBO’s ‘Money Electric’ Documentary Claims Peter Todd is Satoshi Nakamoto

Key Takeaways:

• HBO’s documentary “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery” suggests Peter Todd as the true identity of Bitcoin's creator.
• Todd, a former Bitcoin developer, denied the claim before and after the documentary’s release.
• The documentary’s claim rests on Todd's cryptic statements, including an ambiguous admission about “sacrificing” Bitcoin.

HBO's latest documentary, Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery, has reignited the ongoing debate about the identity of Bitcoin's elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. 

Directed by Cullen Hoback, the documentary names Peter Todd, an early Bitcoin developer, as Nakamoto, a claim that Todd was quick to deny before and after the documentary's release.

HBO Documentary Sparks Fresh Speculation About Satoshi Nakamoto's Identity 

The nearly two-hour film explores various clues, interviewing several people in a globe-spanning investigation. 

The final moments focus on Todd, who seemingly admits to being Nakamoto in a cryptic exchange with Hoback, only to downplay the claim in subsequent remarks.

Politico reported that in the documentary’s climax, Todd stated: “Well yeah, I’m Satoshi Nakamoto,” after being confronted by Hoback. 

However, many interpret this as Todd’s long-standing joke about supporting the privacy of Bitcoin’s true creator, not a serious admission. 

In previous interviews, Todd has often used the phrase “I am Satoshi,” referring to the broader principle of Bitcoin’s decentralized nature.

Ahead of the documentary’s debut, Todd took to X (formerly Twitter) to deny the claim. 

Responding to a comment after the film’s release, Todd reiterated: “I am not Satoshi,” maintaining his stance that the documentary's conclusion is unfounded.

I'm not Satoshi.

— Peter Todd (@peterktodd) October 8, 2024

However, Hoback claimed his reasoning for identifying Todd as Nakamoto relies heavily on a chat log in which Todd refers to himself as the “world’s leading expert on how to sacrifice your Bitcoins.”

Hoback interprets this statement as Todd admitting to permanently forfeiting access to Nakamoto’s 1.1 million Bitcoin, valued at over $69 billion.

Despite the drama surrounding Todd, many in the crypto community remain unconvinced. Todd has been clear in multiple public forums that his statements were either jokes or part of his ongoing advocacy for Nakamoto's right to privacy.

Polymarket Betting Pool Shifts Following Docu-film's Release

The decentralized betting platform Polymarket experienced significant activity leading up to the documentary's release. Over $20 million in trading volume was recorded as users speculated on who the documentary would identify as Satoshi Nakamoto.

Todd was not initially a contender on Polymarket. However, the odds shifted as more details leaked ahead of the documentary. Sassaman, who had been the favorite, leading by 55%, saw his odds drop dramatically after his wife publicly debunked the theory in an interview with DL News.

By Tuesday afternoon, the betting pool had shifted to “Other/Multiple” at 56%, with Sassaman holding only 13% and Adam Back trailing with just over 11%. 

The correct answer on polymarket for Satoshi will be Other/Multiple

Because the documentary will claim Satoshi Nakamoto is Craig Wright and Dave Kleiman

Calling it now pic.twitter.com/9UuaZJ8E9W

— NFT POWER RANKINGS (@nftpowerranking) October 8, 2024

The documentary's controversial claim about Todd was not enough to sway significant betting odds in his favor, further casting doubt on the film's conclusion.