Nick Szabo Could be the Bitcoin's Creator, Not Len Sassaman? Countdown to HBO's Revelation of the True Satoshi Nakamoto on 9 October

Nick Szabo Becomes the Leading Contender in HBO's Satoshi Nakamoto Mystery

As the air date for HBO’s highly anticipated documentary "Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery" draws near, the world is abuzz with speculation about who will be revealed as the elusive creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto.

Among the top contenders is American computer scientist Nick Szabo, who has now overtaken cryptographer Len Sassaman as the frontrunner on Polymarket, a popular betting platform.

Betters on Polymarket have placed Szabo at the top with 28.3% odds, largely due to his role as the inventor of Bit Gold—a precursor to Bitcoin that shares several key elements with the cryptocurrency.

Meanwhile, Sassaman, once the leader with 68% odds, has dropped to 8.5%.

Blockstream CEO Adam Back comes in third with 7.8%.

These shifting numbers reflect a new wave of speculation, especially after the documentary’s producer, Cullen Hoback, revealed to CNN on 7 October 2024 that he believes he confronted the real Satoshi Nakamoto in person, implying that the individual behind Bitcoin’s creation is still alive.

What Led to Len Sassaman’s Odds Plummeting?

Initially, Len Sassaman had strong support as a potential candidate for Satoshi Nakamoto.

His odds surged to 68% after Polymarket opened the betting on 4 October 2024, driven by his close ties to the cryptography community.

Sassaman’s tragic death in 2011 added to the mystique surrounding his candidacy, but recent revelations have cast doubt on his involvement.

Cullen Hoback’s statements about confronting the potential Nakamoto in person seemingly ruled out Sassaman.

Hoback told CNN,

"We make a strong case [...] and I think their reaction is in some ways more telling than even the evidence itself."

His claim would also dismiss other deceased contenders, such as Hal Finney, who passed in 2014.

Sassaman’s widow, Meredith Patterson, spoke out on 8 October 2024, telling DL News that HBO had not approached her for the documentary, further distancing Sassaman from the possibility of being the anonymous Bitcoin creator.

Who Is Nick Szabo?

Nick Szabo is a name well-known within the cryptography and blockchain world, but little is publicly known about his personal life.

The American computer scientist and cryptographer maintains a low profile, with much of his background and identity shrouded in mystery.

His family traces its roots to Hungary, and Szabo’s own privacy adds to the speculation surrounding his involvement in Bitcoin's creation.

Szabo graduated with a degree in computer science from the University of Washington and later earned a doctorate in jurisprudence from George Washington University.

For his ongoing contributions to academia, he was awarded an honorary professorship by Universidad Francisco Marroquín.

Szabo is highly regarded for his research, particularly in cryptography, digital contracts, and blockchain systems.

Despite his denial of being Satoshi Nakamoto, many consider Szabo’s work—particularly on Bit Gold and smart contracts—as the foundation on which Bitcoin was built.

His writings have been extensively analysed by researchers who found remarkable similarities between Szabo’s style and the Bitcoin whitepaper, further fueling speculation about his role in Bitcoin’s origin.

Could Nick Szabo Be Satoshi Nakamoto?

Nick Szabo’s name has been linked to the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto for years, and now, with his odds at 28.3% on Polymarket, many believe HBO may point the finger at him.

Szabo is best known for developing Bit Gold, a digital currency concept that predated Bitcoin by over a decade.

Although Bit Gold never came to fruition, its innovative use of cryptography, proof-of-work, and a decentralised network laid the groundwork for Bitcoin.

Szabo has consistently denied being Nakamoto, but the connections between Bit Gold and Bitcoin remain striking.

Some have even pointed to research conducted by a team at Aston University in Birmingham, which analysed Szabo’s writing style and found it closely resembled that of the Bitcoin whitepaper.

While this doesn’t prove his involvement, it has certainly fueled speculation.

Szabo’s background as a cryptographer and his role in the creation of smart contracts, a concept he proposed in 1996, only adds to the intrigue surrounding him.

Smart contracts have become integral to modern blockchain systems, with Ethereum, EOS, and other cryptocurrencies building upon Szabo’s vision.

Hoback's Search for the True Nakamoto

Cullen Hoback has remained tight-lipped about the individual he confronted during his search for Bitcoin’s creator, but his comments have sparked intense speculation.

"It’s important for the public to have a sense of who [Satoshi] might be, particularly if they’re still involved," Hoback noted, hinting that Nakamoto could still be influencing Bitcoin’s development.

If this is the case, Szabo — still very much active in the cryptocurrency world — could fit the profile.

His influence has only grown as more blockchain technologies have adopted his ideas, making him a central figure in the ongoing conversation about Bitcoin’s origins.

Why Did Polymarket Betters Shift Their Focus to Szabo?

With Len Sassaman seemingly ruled out and Hoback’s statements about a living Nakamoto, it’s no surprise that betters on Polymarket have shifted their focus to Nick Szabo.

His invention of Bit Gold, his foundational work on smart contracts, and the linguistic similarities between his writings and the Bitcoin whitepaper have all contributed to his rise in the betting odds.

Paul Le Roux, a jailed software programmer, also holds 1.9% odds, while Hal Finney, who died in 2014, is at 2.9%.

Other notable names, such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Craig Wright, Dorian Nakamoto, and David Kleiman, have all but faded from contention, with slim odds.

Interestingly, the “Other/Multiple” category boasts the highest odds on Polymarket at 50.5%, indicating that many still believe Bitcoin was the product of a team rather than a single individual.

This theory aligns with the complexity and scope of Bitcoin’s creation, which required expertise in multiple fields.

However, Hoback confirmed in a X post on 5 October that his documentary would “land on a specific name,” suggesting a belief that Bitcoin was created by a singular individual.

This development adds intrigue to Szabo’s candidacy.

Bit Gold’s Legacy and Szabo’s Influence on Bitcoin

Although Bit Gold never launched, its significance as a precursor to Bitcoin cannot be overstated.

The concepts Szabo introduced, particularly peer-to-peer networking, proof-of-work mining, and cryptographic security, were later integrated into Bitcoin’s architecture.

Szabo’s contributions to the development of decentralised systems and blockchain technology have made him a towering figure in the crypto space.

Even if he is not Satoshi Nakamoto, his influence on the world of cryptocurrency is undeniable.

As the world waits for HBO’s documentary to air on 9 October 2024 at 2:00 am UTC, the question remains:

Will Nick Szabo finally be revealed as the true creator of Bitcoin, or will the mystery continue to unfold?