Bitcoin fell more than three per cent after news of Wright’s claims, from $454.89 to below $440, before recovering slightly.
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During a meeting with the BBC, Wright was able to provide technical proof that he was indeed the founder by digitally signing messages using cryptographic keys created during the early stages of Bitcoin’s development.
Wright, long-suspected of having created the crypto-currency, a form of digital money, on Monday published a blog post offering what he said was cryptographic proof that he is indeed Nakamoto.
“I was the main part of it, other people helped me”, Wright, who is now living in London, told the BBC. After an investigation last December, wherein leaked documents connecting Wright to Bitcoin were sent to Wired, the magazine also does not believe Wright is the Bitcoin creator. In December, authorities raided the Australian’s home and office after an American magazine named him as the likely inventor of Bitcoin and holder of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of online currency. New Bitcoins are created, or “mined”, when people with powerful computers solve hard math problems.
“So you’re going to show me that Satoshi Nakamoto is you?” a BBC reporter asked.
“I didn’t take the decision lightly to make my identity public”, Mr. Wright said in a news release, “and I want to be clear that I’m doing this because I care so passionately about my work, and also to dispel any negative myths and fears about Bitcoin”.
Wright became one of the prime candidates for being Bitcoin’s inventor, after emails from him were leaked late past year.
Its origins have always been a mystery – though an Australian man long rumored to have ties to bitcoin has come forward claiming to be its creator. This isn’t the first time that Wright has been outed as Nakamoto, Brito said.
In interviews with the Economist, BBC, GQ and a few bitcoin insiders, bolstered by a technical demonstration meant to prove that he and Nakamoto are one and the same, Wright tried to lay to rest one of the biggest mysteries in the tech world.
Researchers believe Nakamoto may be holding up to one million of the more than 15 million Bitcoins now in circulation, which would make the creator worth around $440 million (roughly Rs. 2,918 crores). The currency also has gained some legitimacy by being designated as a commodity by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in mid-September. Mr. Wright told the BBC that he was cooperating with the Australian Tax Office. However, Gavin Andersen, Bitcoin Foundation chief scientist said he is “convinced beyond reasonable doubt”.
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Wright on Monday said the pseudonym was an homage to Tominaga Nakamoto, a 17th century Japanese philosopher, merchant and advocate of free trade. Wright mentioned that he would gradually exchange bitcoins so as to avoid pushing down its price. He just wanted to set the record straight.
