Jakarta, Pintu News – American cypherpunk and cryptographer Leonard Harris "Len" Sassaman has captured the attention of the crypto world, with Polymarket traders selecting the late computer scientist as the most likely figure to be revealed as Bitcoin's creator in HBO's upcoming documentary.
But who was Len Sassaman, and how did this speculation begin?
HBO’s Documentary "Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery"
On October 3, 2024, filmmaker Cullen Hoback announced HBO’s upcoming documentary "Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery."
Hoback promoted the film on X, hinting he was tracking a missing person—strongly suggesting a quest to uncover Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
Hoback is known for HBO’s miniseries "Q: Into the Storm," where he claimed to have identified QAnon conspiracy theorists. Though the trailer didn’t name Nakamoto, Polymarket users quickly placed bets.
By October 5, 2024, 44.5% of bettors backed Sassaman, ahead of Hal Finney, Adam Back, Nick Szabo, and Paul Le Roux.
Who Was Len Sassaman?
Len Sassaman attended a private school in Pennsylvania and was a cryptography prodigy. As a teen, he moved to San Francisco, joining the cypherpunks—a computer privacy movement from the late 1980s.
He later studied under David Chaum, dubbed the "godfather of crypto." Sassaman contributed to projects like Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) and co-founded SaaS startup Osogato with his wife, Meredith Patterson.
A tribute to Sassaman was encoded into Bitcoin’s Block 138725, calling him "a friend, a kind soul, and a cunning planner."
Could Len Sassaman Be Satoshi Nakamoto?
Key Arguments:
- Timing: Nakamoto’s last email (April 23, 2011) coincided with Sassaman’s death (July 3, 2011).
- Collaborations: Sassaman worked closely with Hal Finney (another Nakamoto candidate) on PGP and remailer tech—a precursor to Bitcoin’s P2P design.
- Technical Focus: Sassaman researched Byzantine Fault Tolerance, a core problem Bitcoin’s blockchain solves.
- Location: Sassaman lived in Belgium during Bitcoin’s development. Nakamoto’s British English and The Times headline reference align with European ties.
Counterarguments:
Sassaman’s widow, Meredith Patterson, publicly denied the claim in 2021, stating:
"Len was not Satoshi."
FAQs
Q: Why is Len Sassaman a top Nakamoto candidate?
A: His expertise, timeline overlap, and work with Finney make him a compelling fit.
Q: Did Sassaman leave clues in Bitcoin’s code?
A: No direct evidence, but Block 138725’s tribute hints at his influence.
Q: What’s the strongest evidence against Sassaman as Nakamoto?
A: His widow’s denial and lack of direct proof in Bitcoin’s early communications.
Q: How did Polymarket influence this theory?
A: Traders boosted Sassaman’s odds to 44.5%, reflecting crowd sentiment.
Q: What’s the significance of remailer tech?
A: It laid groundwork for anonymous P2P networks like Bitcoin.
Conclusion
While Len Sassaman’s credentials and timeline spark intrigue, conclusive evidence linking him to Nakamoto remains elusive. HBO’s documentary may shed light—but until then, the mystery endures.
References:
- Coingape. Why is Len Sassaman Polymarket Odds Dropping Ahead HBO Satoshi Nakamoto Reveal?
- Cointelegraph. Len Sassaman and Satoshi Nakamoto: What’s the Connection?
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. Conduct independent research before investing.
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