Racing Against Time
New evidence has emerged that weakens the theory that Bitcoin pioneer Hal Finney was the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto. According to Jameson Lopp, co-founder of Bitcoin custody firm Casa, Finney was competing in a 10-mile race in Santa Barbara, California at the exact time that Nakamoto was responding to emails and transacting on Bitcoin. Lopp points to timestamped emails between Nakamoto and one of the first Bitcoin developers, Mike Hearn, which coincided with the race. This evidence strongly suggests that Finney was not interacting with a computer during that time.
On-Chain Support
Further support for Lopp's claim comes from on-chain data. Hearn's emails with Nakamoto show that Nakamoto sent him 32.5 BTC in one transaction. This transaction occurred during block 11,408, which was mined 55 minutes into Finney's race. Nakamoto confirmed this transaction and another involving 50 BTC in an email at 6:16 pm, while Finney was still running. This evidence adds weight to the argument that Finney couldn't have been Nakamoto.
Health Issues
Analysis has also shed light on the health issues of both Finney and Nakamoto during the time in question. Finney was battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which affected his ability to use a keyboard. Meanwhile, Nakamoto was actively working on code and posting on forums. This raises doubts about Finney's involvement in Bitcoin's creation, as his illness would have hindered his ability to contribute in the same way as Nakamoto.
Objections and Counterarguments
Lopp acknowledges that there may be objections to this evidence. The emails between Hearn and Nakamoto were published seven years after the fact, and there were trust issues surrounding Hearn at the time. Additionally, it is possible that Finney scripted the emails and transactions in advance, or that there were multiple individuals operating under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. However, Lopp argues that all the available evidence suggests that Bitcoin's creation came from a single developer.
Although the speculation linking Hal Finney to Satoshi Nakamoto has persisted for years, this new analysis challenges that theory. With evidence showing that Finney was occupied with a race during the time Nakamoto was active, it becomes increasingly unlikely that Finney was the creator of Bitcoin. The search for the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto continues.
