Man claims to be the real Satoshi Nakamoto, creator of Bitcoin
At a conference held on October 31 in London, Stephen Mollah, a 58-year-old British businessman, introduced himself as the real Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin.
Mollah's appearance coincided with the 16th anniversary of the publication of the Bitcoin White Paper. The document began what we now know as the largest cryptocurrency market in the world.
The revelation, made by a public relations agency called London Live, promised to clarify the identity behind Satoshi Nakamoto, but generated mixed reactions among those present.
The event, organized at the renowned Frontline Club in London, attracted journalists and onlookers who were waiting for concrete proof. Mollah, however, presented only screenshots that he claimed were evidence of his identity as Satoshi Nakamoto.
The lack of substantial evidence disappointed those present and increased skepticism in the crypto community, which has seen several unproven allegations about the identity of Bitcoin's creator over the years.
Satoshi, is that you?
Hours before the press conference, the PRLondon agency, which represented Mollah, had published a statement saying that “the experience is complete” and that the revelation would surprise everyone.
Charles Anderson, a representative of the agency, claimed that Mollah invented “energy recovery systems” and entertainment programs such as Britain's Got Talent. The absence of concrete evidence, however, raised doubts about the veracity of his allegations.
Despite the attempt to present Mollah as Satoshi Nakamoto, he and Anderson currently face accusations of dishonest conduct. According to the indictment, both stated that Mollah was the holder of 165,000 Bitcoins stored in Singapore, a statement considered fraudulent by British justice.
The trial will take place on November 3, 2025, and both were released on bail by Judge Nigel Peters KC.
Mollah's story is reminiscent of that of Craig Wright, another businessman who claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto. Wright also faced the High Court of England, which concluded that his claims were dishonest. This situation forced Wright to publicly recant, stating that he was not the creator of Bitcoin, ending years of controversy.
The identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains one of the biggest mysteries in the cryptocurrency industry. It is estimated that, if the real Satoshi still controls his Bitcoin portfolios, he has a value of approximately US$69 billion, which would place him among the richest people in the world.
This potentially colossal fortune continues to attract people claiming to be the inventor of Bitcoin. However, none of them have been able to provide definitive evidence to date.
Mollah's case revives the debate over Satoshi Nakamoto's true identity, intensified recently by an HBO documentary that speculated about the possibility that Canadian developer Peter Todd was the creator of Bitcoin, a claim promptly denied by Todd himself.