Canadian developer Peter Todd is Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin. No, we don’t say that. It is award-winning filmmaker Cullen Hoback who pieced together old and new evidence and confronted both Todd and Blockstream founder Adam Back, another suspect, with his findings. All this in a new HBO documentary called “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery.”

In a highlight of the documentary, Hoback asks Todd, “It seems like you had these deep insights into Bitcoin back then?” Todd replies, “Well, I’m Satoshi Nakamoto.”

However, in an email to CoinDesk before the documentary’s release, Todd claimed, “Of course I’m not Satoshi.” He also told CNN, “For the record: I’m not Satoshi,” adding that the film is “irresponsible.” and could endanger his life.

The identity of Satoshi Nakamoto has long been shrouded in mystery, fueling countless theories and speculations.

Cullen Hoback remains convinced of his theory, citing a 2010 Bitcoin forum post by Todd that he believes was written by Satoshi Nakamoto. The director spent years researching various theories and suspects before settling on Todd.

Nic Carter, founding partner of Castle Island Ventures, said, “I’m sure Todd is not Nakamoto,” citing the Bitcoin inventor’s extensive knowledge of cryptography and digital monetary systems.

Jameson Lopp, co-founder of the Bitcoin company Casa, also reacted skeptically to the findings of the documentary. “Wherever Satoshi may be, I like to think they’re laughing at this latest round of stupidity,” he wrote on X.

Wherever Satoshi may be, I like to think they’re laughing at this latest round of stupidity.

— Jameson Lopp (@lopp) October 8, 2024

Peter Todd, a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design, was just 23 years old when the famous Bitcoin white paper was published. As a teenager, he began engaging with key figures in the crypto community, making him a credible candidate for some enthusiasts. Hoback told Politico, “In investigations like these, digital forensics can only go so far… Real answers can only be found offline.”

The documentary features a dramatic scene in which Hoback confronts Todd with the evidence linking him to Satoshi. Hoback said, “Peter was there that day… He had every opportunity to explain himself.” However, Todd dismissed the film’s claims, saying, “Cullen is grasping at straws here.”