The Man Who Vanished In 2011 Is Now World's 12th Richest, Holds Rs 11 Lakh Crore In Bitcoin
Nakamoto was active online until 2011, then vanished. A NY Post report claims he is a 37-year-old Japanese man, but his activity timings suggest he may be based in the UK
The mystery surrounding the identity of Bitcoin's creator has once again stirred global curiosity. Satoshi Nakamoto, the elusive figure credited with inventing the world's first cryptocurrency, remains shrouded in secrecy, with no definitive proof of whether the name represents a real individual or a group. Yet, despite the anonymity, Nakamoto has now been ranked the 12th richest entity in the world, with assets exceeding $128 billion, thanks to Bitcoin's meteoric rise.
Satoshi Nakamoto is credited with publishing Bitcoin's white paper in 2008 and mining the first Bitcoin block in 2009.
Now, nearly a decade and a half since Bitcoin's launch, Satoshi Nakamoto has become the 12th richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $128.92 billion (over Rs 11 lakh crore). According to crypto exchange Bitstamp, Nakamoto is believed to own around 10.96 lakh bitcoins, surpassing even Michael Dell's net worth of $124.8 billion.
Various names have been linked to Nakamoto, including software developer Hal Finney, computer scientist Nick Szabo, entrepreneur Elon Musk, and former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, all of whom have denied being Bitcoin's creator.
Craig Wright, an Australian computer scientist, is the only person to have repeatedly claimed to be Nakamoto. However, a UK court sentenced him to 12 months in prison in 2024, calling him a liar and accusing him of 'legal terrorism" for his persistent falsehoods. His sentence is currently suspended, but he faces imprisonment if he repeats such claims.
Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery ' explored the enigma. At one point, filmmaker Cullen Hoback suggested that a man named Peter K. Todd might be the creator, but Todd denied any involvement.
Nakamoto was active online until 2011, after which he disappeared from public view. A New York Post report suggests Nakamoto might be a 37-year-old Japanese man, although the timing of his online activities aligns with UK daylight hours. Analysis of Bitcoin's code indicates he was proficient in the C++ programming language.
Author Benjamin Wallace, in his book ' The Mysterious Mr Nakamoto: A Fifteen-Year Quest to Unmask the Secret Genius Behind Crypto ' published in March 2025, describes Nakamoto as 'an elusive figure who may or may not exist." Regardless of Nakamoto's true identity, their name now shines in the list of the world's wealthiest individuals, adding an intriguing layer to the fascinating story of Bitcoin.
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