“I Designed Bitco… Gold”: The Day Nick Szabo Unwittingly Admitted to Being Satoshi Nakamoto
Now that Nick Szabo is leading the bets at Polymarket on the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, it is worth remembering the episode in which he unwittingly admitted it.
One of the leading candidates to be the creator of bitcoin is the Hungarian-born computer scientist. For years, he has been the subject of speculation about the identity of the mysterious figure, to which he has been dismissive.
The idea that Szabo is Nakamoto is not a new one and has been with him ever since the popularity of bitcoin. With the premiere of the HBO documentary “E-money: The Mystery of Bitcoin” this Tuesday, the accusations have resurfaced. In this sense, the clues that link him to Nakamoto are appearing, which many do not consider to be a coincidence.
Nick Szabo Unintentionally Admits to Designing Bitcoin
In 2017, in a lengthy and theoretically invaluable interview on Tim Ferris’s podcast, Szabo (1:35:42) uttered “I designed Bitco. Gold” when explaining the differences between the first and second layers of the blockchain. Clearly his reference was to Bit Gold, a digital currency project he created in 1998 whose characteristics are the basis of today’s bitcoin.
Nevertheless, in the interview he suffered from this parapraxis or Freudian slip. He claimed that his creation was exactly bitcoin before correcting himself. Parapractitioners believe that mistakes in speech, memory, and action reveal unconscious thoughts and desires.
While it may have been a coincidental mistake, since bitcoin and bit gold are similar words, there is no doubt in the minds of those who are in favor of the theory that Szabo is Nakamoto. The similarities between Bit Gold and the currency concept that Szabo created in the late 1990s are overwhelming. So for many, it is an improved version of Szabo’s first project.
It is important to keep in mind that all of this is based on speculation. Despite his unintentional admission, there is no proof that Satoshi Nakamoto and Nick Szabo are the same person. Nakamoto has repeatedly denied having created the largest cryptocurrency.
Expectations Soar Just Hours Before the HBO Documentary’s Release
In a few hours the HBO documentary will be released and expectations are high. So much so that the bets are moving with extreme volatility in the Polymarket. Until recently, the leading candidate was Len Sassaman. But the weight of Szabo’s credentials has changed the betting trends on this platform.
The Hungarian-born computer scientist is favored by 27.6% at the time of this writing. Sassaman is second with 7% and Adam Back is third with 6%.
According to media and social networks, the HBO documentary will reveal Nakamoto’s identity. However, it is unlikely that this will be the case, and the producers are not at liberty to make such a claim (although they are not in denial either). Proving that someone is the creator of bitcoin would be an extraordinary claim that would require equally extraordinary evidence.
Evidence might include a purchase from some of the addresses linked to the author of BTC. Whatever the case may be, expectations for the documentary are on the rise, and this Tuesday is one of the dates that could have a major impact on the crypto market.
By Leonardo Perez