The crypto community is eagerly awaiting to watch a new documentary from HBO that will be aired on Tuesday, October 8, that will supposedly reveal who the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, is in real life.

The film is directed by Cullen Hoback and its goal is to “present a compelling case for who Satoshi Nakamoto may be.”

Titled “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mistery” the documentary’s findings could put an end to a long-dated quest to uncover who the crypto and anonymous developer of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies is.

Nakamoto Could be One of the Richest People in the World

Satoshi Nakamoto was the pseudonym of the person – or persons – who developed Bitcoin, publishing the whitepaper back in October 2008. This document introduced to the world a ground-breaking technology that allowed payments to be sent reliably between two parties without the need for an intermediary.

Although several individuals contributed with Nakamoto and actively exchanged comments, opinions, thoughts, and suggestions via message boards with them, the creator of the world’s first-ever crypto asset unexpectedly disappeared and stopped replying to messages in 2011.

He or she (or they) left behind a trillion-dollar asset class and significant wealth as Satoshi’s known crypto wallets reportedly amassed a staggering total of 1.1 million BTC worth over $60 billion at the time of writing.

Uncovering the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto has been one of the most fascinating mysteries of the modern age and has managed to capture the imagination of tech enthusiasts, financial experts, and the general public.

This allure has only intensified as Bitcoin (BTC) has gained mainstream acceptance, attracting support from Wall Street giants like BlackRock, billionaires like Elon Musk, and world leaders.

Polymarket Bettors Point to Len Sassaman as The Most Likely HBO Nakamoto

There has been some intense speculation about who the documentary will name as the person behind the pseudonymous. According to Polymarket bets, the most likely candidate at the moment is Len Sassaman with odds of 39%.

Trailing at a significant distance with odds of just 7% is Adam Back, the founder and CEO of Blockstream and co-creator of Hashcash – a protocol that resembles how the Bitcoin network works. This was quite surprising to many in the crypto community as Back as often been seen as the most likely candidate for over a decade now and Sassaman was mostly unknown.

Other candidates named by Polymarket bettors that currently have odds exceeding 1% include Hal Finney, Paul Le Roux, and Nick Szabo – also two well-known figures in the crypto space.

Who is Len Sassaman?

Sassaman, a well-known cryptographer who fought depression for many years, has been linked to Bitcoin’s origins for many years because of his proficiency in the field and close relationship with other individuals who formed the foundation of cryptography like Finney and David Chaums.

In July 2011, he committed suicide. The timing of Sassaman’s death is curious as it occurred just three months after Nakamoto wrote his last message saying that he was working on other things as Bitcoin was “in good hands” already.

However, historical evidence suggests Sassaman may not have been entirely supportive of Bitcoin in its early days, with attributed Twitter posts revealing a skeptical stance.

In the past, other individuals have been identified by the crypto community as the most likely Bitcoin creators. The list includes Craig Wright – a self-proclaimed Nakamoto who was ultimately forced by a court of law to stop identifying himself as the creator of Bitcoin. Most experts agree that Wright is almost certainly not Nakamoto, however, pointing to his lacking knowledge in cryptography and his propensity to conjure fake evidence.

No conclusive evidence has been presented that can, without a shred of doubt, point to one person. In addition, and perhaps adding more fuel to the intrigue, a total of 250 BTC tokens, worth around $15 million at the time, were moved recently from one of the crypto wallets opened during the so-called “Satoshi era.”

The crypto community was excited that this event could precede the reveal of Bitcoin’s creator to the world as the address had been dormant since 2009. Although the wallet was not linked to Nakamoto directly, it was owned by some of the earliest supporters of blockchain technology.

Nakamoto’s Reveal Could Impact the Price of BTC and Spark Controversy

polymarket bets favor len sassaman as most likely satoshi

Unmasking Nakamoto could have significant consequences for the crypto market. For example, if Sassaman ends up being the individual behind the pseudonymous, it is highly likely that the BTC tokens linked to Nakamoto’s wallet have been lost forever.

Given the size of the stash held in Nakamoto-linked wallets, the total lifetime supply of Bitcoin would be immediately slashed to less than 20 million, which could result in an immediate price boost.

Moreover, if the real identity of Nakamoto is revealed to be a living person (or persons), it would indicate that those age-old Bitcoins are likely not lost for good.

This could endanger the price and performance of BTC in the short term but may have limited effects in its long-term prospect as, however Nakamoto is, that person is indisputably a big supporter of the technology and has been reluctant to sell any of his assets along the way. The total silence from these old wallets is one indication that the real Satoshi Nakamoto is no longer with us, whether it is Sassaman, Hal Finney, or someone else entirely.

Identifying Satoshi could also lead to increased legal and regulatory scrutiny, particularly regarding the creator’s potential involvement in or responsibility for illegal activities facilitated by Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Maximalists Believe that Nakamoto’s Identity Should Be Kept Secret

Others within the Bitcoin community argue that these attempts to unmask Satoshi are harmful to the technology and cite the importance of privacy rights.

Peter McCormack, a Bitcoin podcaster, stated: “Satoshi gave the world a profound gift in Bitcoin, but deliberately chose to remain anonymous — a decision that must be respected. Efforts to unmask them are not just irresponsible but potentially dangerous.”

In general, most have expressed doubt about the documentary’s ability to conclusively prove Satoshi’s identity.

The documentary’s trailer shows Adam Back being interviewed several times, which mostly discards him as its Nakamoto bet.

Some believe that Bitcoin’s strength lies in its decentralized nature and the absence of a central figurehead. Crypto exchange Coinbase epitomized this sentiment with their response to the trailer: “We are all Satoshi. Roll credits.”

As viewers tune in to HBO tomorrow at 9 p.m. EST, they will be witnessing not just an attempt to solve a long-standing mystery but also a reflection on the profound impact that one anonymous individual or group has had on the world of finance and technology.

Whatever the outcome, the story of Satoshi Nakamoto and Bitcoin will likely fascinate and influence generations to come. The legacy of Satoshi Nakamoto extends far beyond the digital character’s true identity as Bitcoin has evolved into a global phenomenon that challenged the traditional financial system and sparked a revolution.