Durian Nakamoto, why was he mistaken for Satoshi?

In 2014, Newsweek journalist Lia McGlashan Goodman published a report that sent shockwaves through the entire industry. The report claimed to identify the person behind the mysterious Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto. A man named Dorian Nakamoto suddenly attracted worldwide attention.

The Ripple Effect of Newsweek’s Report and Identity Verification

Newsweek’s article was based more on circumstantial evidence than direct proof. Multiple factors, including Dorian Nakamoto’s employment history, his name, and even his place of residence, were combined to infer that he was the Bitcoin developer. However, many members of the Bitcoin community pointed out that all the evidence presented was circumstantial and lacked certainty.

What was particularly concerning was the fundamental contradiction: someone who highly values privacy and has continuously concealed their identity leaving behind communication records using their real name. This logical inconsistency cast significant doubt on the credibility of the report.

Dorian Nakamoto’s Clear Denial

Soon after, Dorian Nakamoto himself issued an official statement. He explicitly denied that the Newsweek report was accurate, that he was involved in the creation or development of Bitcoin, or that he had participated in any way in the Bitcoin project.

Furthermore, his son also responded to interviews, stating that he had never even heard the word “Bitcoin” before. This consistent denial from the parent and child highlighted the sloppy investigation by the media.

Programming Skills and Knowledge Issues

Dorian Nakamoto pointed out that his programming skills were insufficient to support the development of the Bitcoin system. His statement clearly declared, “I do not possess specialized knowledge in cryptography, P2P systems, or alternative currencies, nor do I have experience working in these fields.”

Such technical limitations and lack of knowledge significantly reduced the likelihood of him being Satoshi Nakamoto. The evidence used by the media to authenticate his identity had completely collapsed at this stage.

Support from the Community and Expert Opinions

In response to this incident, industry experts such as Andreas Antonopoulos, Chief Security Officer of Blockchain.info, began supporting Dorian Nakamoto. The industry demonstrated solidarity with the victim of unjust reporting.

In 2017, at the Bitconf conference, a new interview regarding Satoshi Nakamoto was conducted, maintaining ongoing interest in uncovering the true founder’s identity. However, the Dorian Nakamoto misidentification case served as a lesson on how inadequate media investigations can harm innocent individuals.