Dogecoin founder claims Hal Finney is Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto

• Billy Markus suggested Hal Finney as a potential creator amid ongoing debates.
• Polymarket data indicated a prevailing belief that Satoshi’s identity will remain “not proven in Q4.”

HBO’s recent documentary “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery” is making news for reigniting the intrigue surrounding the true identity of Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.

 The documentary hinted that Peter Todd, a prominent Bitcoin [BTC] core developer, could be Nakamoto—a claim Todd firmly dismissed by clearly asserting,

“I’m not Satoshi.”

AD

His denial, however, hasn’t pacified the debate, as others have joined the discussion, fueling further speculation about the elusive figure behind BTC’s origins.

Did Dogecoin’s founder reveal the real Satoshi?

Amid the recent buzz sparked by HBO’s documentary, Dogecoin [DOGE] founder, Billy Markus shared his thoughts on the identity of Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. 

He took to X (formerly Twitter), dismissing the claim that Peter Todd could be BTC’s creator, and clarified,

“He [Peter Todd]’s one of the more OG core devs but not the creator.”

When asked about his thoughts on Nakamoto’s real identity, Markus didn’t hesitate to suggest his theory and said,

“Hal Finney and friends.”

This playful response has further stirred curiosity, adding a fresh angle to the enduring mystery of Bitcoin’s origins.

For those unfamiliar, Billy Markus—known online as Shibetoshi Nakamoto—was among the earliest figures in the cryptocurrency world.

Alongside Jackson Palmer, Markus launched DOGE in 2013, using BTC’s codebase to create the now-iconic meme coin.

Why did Billy Markus choose Hal?

Markus may have referenced Hal Finney as a likely candidate for Bitcoin’s creation, due to Finney’s substantial reputation in cryptography and early involvement with BTC.

For context, Finney, a respected computer scientist, was among Bitcoin’s first users and received its initial transaction of 10 BTCs from Nakamoto on the 12th of January 2009.

His work on Reusable Proofs of Work (RPOW) and his activity in the cypherpunk community further support this theory.

However, doubts persist due to Finney’s clear denials and openness about his involvement, even sharing email exchanges and wallet details to debunk claims.

Diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in 2009, Finney’s declining health would have made it difficult to sustain Bitcoin’s demanding development.

Notably, while some see similarities between his and Nakamoto’s writing, others point to distinct differences in their communication and coding styles.

Polymarket and Bitcoin trend

Thus, as speculation swirls around the true identity of Bitcoin’s mysterious creator, Polymarket data reflects a consensus leaning towards “Not proven in Q4,” suggesting that the mystery will likely remain unsolved this quarter.

Meanwhile, BTC was caught in a downtrend, trading at $61,181.41 following a 1.51% dip in the last 24 hours as per CoinMarketCap.