New Evidence Challenges Theory of Hal Finney as Bitcoin Creator, Satoshi Nakamoto
Summary:
New evidence provided by Bitcoin custody fi Casa's co-founder, Jameson Lopp, urges a fresh look at the assertion that the late computer scientist Hal Finney was the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. The evidence includes timing details of a 10-mile race Finney participated in 2009 that coincides with timestamped emails between Nakamoto and early Bitcoin developer Mike Hearn, and a Bitcoin transaction made during the race. Further, analysis shows that Nakamoto was active in coding at a time when Finney was fighting Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Fresh evidence has come to light that raises doubts about the theory that Hal Finney, the late computer scientist and early adapter of Bitcoin, was the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. The theory suggested that Finney, known to be the first other than Nakamoto to operate Bitcoin's software and was its first recipient, was the actual inventor of Bitcoin, a claim Finney denied until his death in 2014.
Bitcoins custody fi Casa's co-founder and avowed cypherpunk, Jameson Lopp, has newly produced evidence that could debunk this assertion. In an October 21 blog, Lopp discussed a 10-mile race that Finney participated in on Saturday, April 18, 2009, in Santa Barbara, California. According to the data from this race, Finney completed the race in 78 minutes. Lopp points out that early Bitcoin trailblazer, Mike Hearn, was involved in email exchanges with Nakamoto at the exact time period.
Lopp's evidence refers to the preserved emails released by Hearn publicly. He gleaned that Satoshi had sent an email to Hearn at 2 minutes before Finney completed the race at 9:16 AM Pacific time. Since Hal was running for about 78 minutes, it becomes improbable for him to be interacting with a computer - thus casting doubts that he was Satoshi.
Furthermore, Lopp offers the piece of evidence of an on-chain transaction. Emails belonging to Hearn and Nakamoto revealed that the latter made a transaction to the former involving 32.5 Bitcoins. Lopp cited the transaction that happened on block 11,408, which was mined 55 minutes into Finney's race, at 8:55 am as per California timing.
Moreover, it has been observed that Satoshi was deeply involved in coding and engaging on various forums at a time when Finney was already battling ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), which had significantly reduced his typing speed. Nevertheless, Lopp accepts that there are possible counterarguments, for instance, that Finney might have set up the emails and transactions beforehand. However, he is firm in his belief that one lone developer is responsible for Bitcoin's creation.
Hal Finney died in August 2014, succumbing to the complications of ALS.
Published At
10/23/2023 3:34:21 AM
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