Dorian Nakamoto, the California man who is Satoshi Nakamoto – but not the one the media is looking for – has appeared in a YouTube video thanking the bitcoin community for its support.
Bitcoin entrepreneur Andreas Antonopoulos organized the fundraiser as partial compensation for Nakamoto’s recent troubles, after a Newsweek cover story ‘revealed’ him to be bitcoin’s mysterious originator.
The appeal has raised over 47 BTC (roughly $23,000) and Nakamoto says he plans to keep his “bitcoin account” open and become a user.
In the three-minute video, Nakamoto appears alongside Antonopoulos and holds up a copy of Newsweek’s now-infamous ‘Bitcoin’s Face’ edition, repeating his denial that he was involved with bitcoin or its creation in any way:
“I’m sure you guys will know that Satoshi Nakamoto is not me. But Leah [Goodman] thinks so, and Newsweek said so. But it’s not true.
I’m very thankful for all these people in the US, Europe, Asia, in South America and Africa who supported me throughout. Thank you very much. I want to hug you, this 2000 of you who donated.”
He also mocks the notion that anyone wanting to anonymously unleash the world’s most disruptive cryptocurrency to date would use their real name in online communications.
Newsweek and Nakamoto
Nakamoto, 64, who has suffered both unemployment and health problems in recent years, was hounded by the media after Newsweek’s cover story appeared, causing him, he has said, further hardship.
Today’s video is Nakamoto’s first public statement since he hired a lawyer and made an official denial of Newsweek’s claims in late March.
Newsweek and journalist Leah Goodman say they stand by those claims that Nakamoto created bitcoin, and the research behind them.
The magazine used the story to relaunch its print edition after its acquisition by new owner IBT Media, but was accused by many in the bitcoin community of rushing to release the story based on flimsy circumstantial evidence.