Peter Todd Named as Possible Bitcoin Creator in HBO Documentary

• HBO documentary filmmaker Cullen Hoback has named Peter Todd as Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.  
• Peter Todd, a Bitcoin core developer since 2010, denies being Satoshi, calling the claim “ludicrous.”  
• Cullen Hoback bases his theory on Todd’s past involvement in Bitcoin development and a chat log message.

In a new HBO documentary, filmmaker Cullen Hoback has named Peter Todd, a Bitcoin core developer, as the possible identity behind Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin.

Hoback’s claims were presented in the documentary Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery, where he suggested that Todd’s involvement in Bitcoin’s early development and a series of cryptic messages point to him being Satoshi Nakamoto.

Todd, who has been involved with Bitcoin since 2010, firmly denied the accusation. He called Hoback’s theory “grasping at straws” and “ludicrous.” Despite acknowledging that the interview featured in the documentary took place, Todd emphasized that he has never claimed to be Nakamoto. “Of course, I’m not Satoshi,” he stated.

Hoback’s argument is largely based on a chat log message where Todd refers to himself as the “world’s leading expert on how to sacrifice your bitcoins” and a 2010 post on BitcoinTalk, which Hoback believes was mistakenly made from Todd’s account. 

The filmmaker also referenced the Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 125 (BIP 125), introduced by Todd in 2015, to support his claims further. The proposal allows users to replace unconfirmed transactions, a feature some have controversially linked to early discussions in Bitcoin’s development.

Moreover, Hoback speculated that an anonymous BitcoinTalk contributor named John Dillon, who was active in 2010, might have been created by Todd as part of a broader cover-up to conceal his true identity as Nakamoto. This theory suggests that Todd destroyed access to the 1.1 million bitcoins reportedly held by Nakamoto, a claim Todd categorically denies.

The documentary has already stirred online debates, with leaked clips circulating on social media. However, Todd dismissed the speculation, maintaining that there is no evidence linking him to Nakamoto and rejecting Hoback’s claims as unfounded.

The mystery surrounding its creator remains unresolved despite efforts by figures like Hoback to bring new theories into the spotlight. Todd’s firm denial adds to the list of those distancing themselves from the elusive figure behind Bitcoin.