Dozens of people have been suspected of being SATOSHI NAKAMOTO, the creator of #Bitcoin
But one person in particular, although very discreet, has an extremely troubling history and matches up with many elements:
Len Sassaman.
But one person in particular, although very discreet, has an extremely troubling history and matches up with many elements:
Len Sassaman.
Who is Len Sassaman?
He is an early American Cypherpunk.
A brilliant cryptographer and mathematician, he will gravitate his whole life around the values of Bitcoin:
The economy, P2P, Cryptography, emailers, etc.
He is an early American Cypherpunk.
A brilliant cryptographer and mathematician, he will gravitate his whole life around the values of Bitcoin:
The economy, P2P, Cryptography, emailers, etc.
Since he was very young, he has been an extremely intelligent person, sometimes too much for his environment.
He was diagnosed with depression in adolescence and underwent traumatic experiences with psychiatrists that left him with deep scars of authority.
He was diagnosed with depression in adolescence and underwent traumatic experiences with psychiatrists that left him with deep scars of authority.
• He launched a public key cryptography start-up at the age of 22.
• He worked on PGP alongside Hal Finney, another Cypherpunk.
• He even worked with David Chaum, the father of digital currency and the Cypherpunk movement.
• He worked on PGP alongside Hal Finney, another Cypherpunk.
• He even worked with David Chaum, the father of digital currency and the Cypherpunk movement.
Len is described as a brilliant and discreet cryptographer who had everything to become one of the best of his time.
He pursued work, conferences, and start-ups in all of the domains we've discussed.
Naturally, we arrive at the ultimate question:
He pursued work, conferences, and start-ups in all of the domains we've discussed.
Naturally, we arrive at the ultimate question:
Why Len Sassaman could be Satoshi Nakamoto?
Several very troubling clues point in this direction:
Several very troubling clues point in this direction:
• His work:
Satoshi was a brilliant cryptographer, extremely well-trained.
To create a protocol like Bitcoin, one needs an extremely precise range of knowledge:
Cryptography, Economics, P2P, Code, Libertarian philosophy.
Len is an EXPERT in all of these domains.
Satoshi was a brilliant cryptographer, extremely well-trained.
To create a protocol like Bitcoin, one needs an extremely precise range of knowledge:
Cryptography, Economics, P2P, Code, Libertarian philosophy.
Len is an EXPERT in all of these domains.
• Satoshi lived in Europe:
This is the conclusion that investigators came to by tracing Satoshi's publication times.
At the time of Bitcoin's publication, Len was in Louvain, Belgium, alongside David Chaum.
This is the conclusion that investigators came to by tracing Satoshi's publication times.
At the time of Bitcoin's publication, Len was in Louvain, Belgium, alongside David Chaum.
• The British paradox:
Satoshi used purely British expressions in his way of speaking.
However, we know that Satoshi is extremely linked to the Cypherpunks, who are American.
Paradoxical, what American speaks like an Englishman?
Satoshi used purely British expressions in his way of speaking.
However, we know that Satoshi is extremely linked to the Cypherpunks, who are American.
Paradoxical, what American speaks like an Englishman?
Len Sassaman.
Surprisingly, it is noted that Len uses British expressions like Satoshi: "flat, grey, bloody...".
Perhaps he absorbed this way of speaking during his stay in Europe.
Surprisingly, it is noted that Len uses British expressions like Satoshi: "flat, grey, bloody...".
Perhaps he absorbed this way of speaking during his stay in Europe.
Satoshi speaks English, speaks about Euros instead of Pounds...
It's a bit of a giveaway, and one would expect a high-level anonymous cryptographer to have the sense not to refer to a national currency.
But why refer to euros instead of dollars?
It's a bit of a giveaway, and one would expect a high-level anonymous cryptographer to have the sense not to refer to a national currency.
But why refer to euros instead of dollars?
• Satoshi is an academic:
Many indications point in this direction.
Satoshi's publications increase during summer and winter breaks, but decrease in the spring and at the end of the year...
Those darn finals, even for Satoshi.
Many indications point in this direction.
Satoshi's publications increase during summer and winter breaks, but decrease in the spring and at the end of the year...
Those darn finals, even for Satoshi.
It's not just that.
The construction of the Bitcoin code shows that Satoshi had an academic background.
Although sometimes done hastily, it was very academic, using very conventional practices in development learned at the university.
The construction of the Bitcoin code shows that Satoshi had an academic background.
Although sometimes done hastily, it was very academic, using very conventional practices in development learned at the university.
But it was nevertheless brilliant and extremely sharp, worthy of a researcher or a professor (or a monstrous student)
As we saw earlier, Len Sassaman was in Belgium at that time, to covet a PhD title at COSIC in Leuven
As we saw earlier, Len Sassaman was in Belgium at that time, to covet a PhD title at COSIC in Leuven
• P2P:
Bitcoin is not the first cryptocurrency. However, it is the first to be based on a fully P2P and distributed network. This is actually the title of the Bitcoin White Paper. To create this, it required a deep knowledge in a very niche subject, P2P.
Bitcoin is not the first cryptocurrency. However, it is the first to be based on a fully P2P and distributed network. This is actually the title of the Bitcoin White Paper. To create this, it required a deep knowledge in a very niche subject, P2P.
And who lived and worked for 2 years with the creator of the world's most used P2P protocol?
Len Sassaman, of course.
He was extremely close to Bram Cohen, the founder of BitTorrent.
(And he advised Cohen at the time to publish BitTorrent under a pseudonym..)
Len Sassaman, of course.
He was extremely close to Bram Cohen, the founder of BitTorrent.
(And he advised Cohen at the time to publish BitTorrent under a pseudonym..)
• Philosophy:
Len and Satoshi are extremely close in their libertarian ideals and their desire for access to knowledge.
Len never patented anything, he always made his creations available in an open-source manner.
Similarly, Satoshi published Bitcoin on a forum.
Len and Satoshi are extremely close in their libertarian ideals and their desire for access to knowledge.
Len never patented anything, he always made his creations available in an open-source manner.
Similarly, Satoshi published Bitcoin on a forum.
Len was always driven by a desire to defend access to knowledge and technological progress against the monopoly of corporations and governments.
• Disappearance:
In May 2011, after 169 code commits and 539 messages in one year, Satoshi Nakamoto published his very last message:
"I've moved on to other things and probably won't be around in the future."
He disappeared shortly afterward, never to be heard from again.
In May 2011, after 169 code commits and 539 messages in one year, Satoshi Nakamoto published his very last message:
"I've moved on to other things and probably won't be around in the future."
He disappeared shortly afterward, never to be heard from again.
Two months later, on July 3rd, 2011, Len Sassaman tragically passed away by taking his own life after a decades-long battle with depression and illness.
Since his computer was heavily encrypted, it is completely impossible to access it and it may hold the answer to the Satoshi Nakamoto Mystery.
The door is forever closed.
The door is forever closed.
At the time of his death, a message from a certain "Pablos08" on the Hacker News forum shed more light on Len Sassaman's vision and his desire to give freedom back to the people.
"Cypherpunks write code."
"Cypherpunks write code."
We may never know if Len Sassaman is Satoshi. However, we do know that he contributed significantly to the development of Bitcoin, directly or indirectly. His work and philosophy will remain ingrained in the blockchain and in the hearts of many people.
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