Michael Saylor publicly questioned the New York Times' latest investigation into the identity of Bitcoin's creator Satoshi Nakamoto, asserting that stylometric analysis is insufficient and that true verification requires cryptographic signature. Saylor is co-founder and executive chairman of Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), which holds 766,970 BTC worth over $54 billion — making it the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin.
NYT Report and the Stylometry Dispute
The New York Times report published on April 8 employed stylometry, a technique analyzing writing style to identify potential authors. The analysis was conducted by computational linguist Florian Cafiero, but the publication acknowledged the findings were not conclusive. Saylor responded directly: "Stylometry is interesting, but not proof." He pointed to contemporaneous emails between Satoshi and Adam Back from 2008, which suggest they were distinct individuals.
These emails include a message from Nakamoto to Back in August 2008 discussing the use of Back's Hashcash invention in the upcoming Bitcoin whitepaper. Saylor argued that the email chain provides stronger evidence than stylistic analysis.
Adam Back Again Denies Being Satoshi
Blockstream CEO and early cypherpunk Adam Back reiterated that he is not Satoshi Nakamoto. He attributed similarities in writing style to overlapping interests within the cypherpunk community, suggesting perceived connections stem from confirmation bias rather than factual links. Both Back and Saylor agree: until someone can sign a message with Satoshi's private keys, any identification remains speculative.
Satoshi's Absence Strengthens Bitcoin, Says Saylor
Saylor emphasized that Satoshi's voluntary disappearance is a key factor in Bitcoin's success. The lack of a central authority makes the network truly decentralized and more resilient. Strategy's accumulation strategy is built on this belief: Bitcoin's long-term value and utility do not depend on its founder's identity.
Following the NYT report, Bitcoin's price dropped approximately 2.4%. Saylor dismissed this as short-term volatility, stating that speculation about Satoshi's identity has little bearing on Bitcoin's long-term prospects. "Until someone signs with Satoshi's keys, every theory is just narrative," he said.
Crypto Community Reaction
The controversy once again highlights the crypto community's tension regarding the unresolved mystery of Satoshi Nakamoto's identity. While media and researchers frequently attempt to uncover the truth via technical analysis, key figures like Saylor and Back insist on cryptographic proof. Strategy's massive holdings also amplify Saylor's market influence. Satoshi's wallets (containing roughly 1 million BTC) have never moved, meaning any identity claim without on-chain signature is unlikely to gain broad community acceptance.