I've been thinking lately about one of the biggest mysteries in the crypto world – who really is Satoshi Nakamoto? Since 2010, this anonymous Bitcoin creator has disappeared from the internet, and since then, the cryptocurrency community has been trying to identify him.

One of the more interesting theories points to Nick Szabo, an American cryptographer and cypherpunk. Before I explain why some researchers consider him a potential candidate, it's worth knowing who Nick Szabo is in the first place.

Born in 1964 in the United States, Szabo earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Washington in 1989. Additionally, he holds a law degree from George Washington University Law School. That’s quite an unusual combination – computer science and law. Szabo is regarded as one of the key cypherpunks, meaning someone involved in studying cryptography and its applications for privacy protection and social change.

His personal history is also intriguing. According to reports, his interest in encryption and cryptography was influenced by his father, who told him about government abuses. Szabo’s father witnessed the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and saw communist crimes, including the confiscation of citizens’ property.

But why Nick Szabo specifically? Well, his contribution to the world of financial technology is enormous. In 1998, he published the concept of Bit Gold – the idea of a decentralized cryptocurrency based on cryptographic principles. Sounds familiar? Yes, because Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin from 2008 is based on very similar mechanisms. Szabo is also the author of the concept of smart contracts from 1994, which he expanded two years later. This idea became the foundation of Ethereum.

I always wonder – this guy created concepts that are the basis for two of the biggest cryptocurrency projects, yet he denies any involvement in creating Bitcoin. It’s also interesting that both ChatGPT and Elon Musk believe that Nick Szabo fits the profile of Bitcoin’s creator very well. Musk argues that Szabo’s ideologies and achievements are completely consistent with Bitcoin’s vision as an alternative financial system.

There are a few facts suggesting that Nick Szabo could be Satoshi. His writing style and choice of words are very similar to those seen in Satoshi Nakamoto’s publications. Of course, he possessed all the necessary cryptographic skills. He also had personal motivations – a desire to create a decentralized payment system, perhaps as a form of revenge for his father’s suffering. Even one of Satoshi’s wallets begins with the characters 1NS, which could correspond to the initials of Nick Szabo.

On the other hand, there are many arguments against this theory. Satoshi mentioned Nick Szabo’s Bit Gold as an inspiration but never suggested that Szabo himself was the creator. Many believe that Satoshi is Japanese, and Szabo has no Japanese roots. Moreover, Nakamoto had issues with questions regarding the legal aspects of Bitcoin, whereas Nick Szabo has a legal education. Szabo himself has repeatedly denied any involvement in the project.

Considering all the arguments for and against, it seems that someone else is behind the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Although Nick Szabo remains one of the most interesting candidates in this discussion.

I’m curious what you think about this? There are also theories pointing to Dorian Nakamoto or Hal Finney. Let me know in the comments which theory you find most plausible.