Strategy and Coinbase CEOs Signal the End of the Hunt

A years-long race to de-anonymize Satoshi Nakamoto appears to have reached an ideological dead end, one that has paradoxically benefited the industry. Against the backdrop of the film “Finding Satoshi,” leaders of major crypto companies have voiced a synchronized thesis: Nakamoto’s identity has definitively become a historical artifact rather than a market factor.

Phong Le, CEO of MicroStrategy, commenting on the film, emphasized that Bitcoin has earned an approach grounded in humility and recognition of contributions, rather than attempts at exposure. He was supported by Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, who stated that Bitcoin’s code and economic model now “stand on their own,” regardless of who held the pen in 2008.

Who is Satoshi?

An interesting angle is that the Finding Satoshi version suggesting a duo of Hal Finney and Len Sassaman is the most “market-neutral.” Unlike past theories involving Peter Todd or Adam Back, this version implies that the “keys to paradise” are physically inaccessible, as both presumed creators are deceased – Finney since 2014 and Sassaman since 2011.

This removes the long-standing “black swan” risk of a sudden release of 1.1 million $BTC from Satoshi-linked wallets. Moreover, acknowledgment from their widows of the plausibility of this theory puts a cap on speculation, transforming Satoshi from a mysterious manipulator into a tragic genius.

The numbers confirm that Bitcoin has outgrown its creator. Today, MicroStrategy holds 815,000 $BTC and BlackRock holds 806,000 $BTC, effectively becoming a collective “Satoshi” of the present era. Their combined holdings balance the founder’s share.

Whether this makes the network more decentralized and resilient to any individual reputational risks remains an open question.