Concrete proof: Len Sassaman is Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin creator

Len Sassaman: The Case for Satoshi Nakamoto

The true identity of Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, remains one of the most enduring mysteries of the digital age. Several candidates have been proposed over the years, but none more compelling than Len Sassaman. A brilliant cryptographer and privacy advocate, Sassaman’s life, work, and untimely death align with various elements of Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity, making him a compelling figure in the search for Bitcoin’s creator.

Focus on Privacy Protocols
Len Sassaman’s work centered around digital privacy, security, and cryptography — core principles embedded into the very foundation of Bitcoin. As a staunch advocate for privacy, Sassaman’s contributions to anonymous communications and decentralized systems mirror the goals that Bitcoin seeks to accomplish. He was a leading figure in cryptography and notably contributed to the development of the PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) encryption, one of the most widely used encryption programs for securing communication. Sassaman also served as the maintainer for the Mixmaster remailer, a tool used for anonymous email communications, which aligns with the privacy-first ethos of Bitcoin.

Sassaman’s dedication to privacy protocols reflected Satoshi’s vision for Bitcoin as a decentralized, anonymous currency. Bitcoin was not merely an innovation in digital money, but a response to the growing need for privacy and autonomy in online transactions — values Sassaman consistently championed throughout his career.

Education at COSIC

Len Sassaman’s academic background further bolsters the theory that he could be Satoshi Nakamoto. Sassaman pursued a Ph.D. in cryptography at COSIC, the Computer Security and Industrial Cryptography group at KU Leuven, one of the most prestigious research institutions for cryptography and computer security in the world. COSIC has produced numerous innovations in digital security, and its focus on cryptographic protocols and privacy-preserving technologies dovetails with Bitcoin’s core features.

At COSIC, Sassaman honed his expertise in digital security, working on advanced cryptographic techniques and protocols that undoubtedly equipped him with the knowledge needed to create a revolutionary system like Bitcoin. His studies included secure communication systems and advanced cryptographic algorithms, both critical to the structure of a decentralized digital currency like Bitcoin. This academic background offers a plausible technical foundation for someone with the capacity to develop Bitcoin.

The Dissertation and the Bitcoin Whitepaper

One of the most striking coincidences is the similarity between Len Sassaman’s academic work and the whitepaper released by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008, titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.” At the time, Sassaman was working toward his Ph.D., making it possible that the Bitcoin whitepaper could have been conceived as part of his academic research. The Bitcoin whitepaper reads much like a dissertation, structured with meticulous attention to detail, extensive referencing, and careful explanation of concepts. This aligns with Sassaman’s background as a doctoral candidate working on cryptography-related subjects.

Moreover, the writing style in Satoshi’s whitepaper is highly technical, focused on cryptographic and economic concepts, areas where Sassaman had extensive expertise. The precision and depth in the paper resemble the kind of work produced in a high-level academic setting like COSIC, lending further weight to the theory that Sassaman could have written it while developing his dissertation.

Network and Pre-Bitcoin Relationships

Len Sassaman had pre-existing relationships with key figures in the cryptographic and early Bitcoin communities, which strengthens the case for his involvement in the creation of Bitcoin. Sassaman was a contemporary and collaborator with some of the earliest developers and advocates of Bitcoin, including Hal Finney, Adam Back, and David Chaum.

Hal Finney, who was one of the first individuals to receive a Bitcoin transaction from Satoshi Nakamoto, worked closely with Sassaman in the development of privacy-enhancing technologies. Adam Back, the inventor of Hashcash (an important precursor to Bitcoin’s proof-of-work mechanism), was another close colleague. Sassaman’s proximity to these individuals suggests he was deeply embedded in the same circles that nurtured the ideas and technologies that would eventually culminate in Bitcoin.

David Chaum, considered one of the pioneers of digital currency through his work on eCash, was another influential figure in Sassaman’s network. Sassaman’s connections to these cryptographers — who are often speculated to have had a hand in Bitcoin’s creation — highlight his involvement in the development of the cryptographic protocols that underpin the digital currency. David Chaum oversaw Lens dissertation while studying at COSIC. This adds weight to the case that Sassaman built upon Chaums failed eCash fundamentals, breathing new life and ideas into a solid base.

Similarities in Writing Style

The writing style of Satoshi Nakamoto, as seen in forum posts, emails, and the Bitcoin whitepaper, has been analyzed extensively. Interestingly, the English language proficiency and phrasing of Satoshi have been compared to Len Sassaman’s own writing, revealing several notable similarities. Both Sassaman and Nakamoto wrote in British English, using similar expressions and terminology.

Moreover, linguistic analyses of Satoshi’s correspondence show a formal, technical tone that mirrors Sassaman’s style in his public writings and academic work. Both exhibited a highly organized, methodical approach to technical communication, indicative of someone with an academic background and fluency in cryptographic discourse. These subtle linguistic and stylistic similarities suggest that Sassaman could have easily written under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto.

I’m sure you’re wondering, where did the name Satoshi Nakamoto come from? A new theory highlights 3 researchers as inspiration for the Bitcoin creators name, who were involved in early blockchain research work. Hal Finney a computer scientist who was the first receiver of the first 50 mined Bitcoin Satoshi Nakamoto, talked about zero-knowledge proofs at a Crypto98 conference. Attending this event were, SATOSHI Hada, Toshiaki TaNAKA, and Naohiko UraMOTO on the same event program info page.

Posting Schedule and Timeline

An intriguing detail that has fueled speculation is the alignment between Satoshi Nakamoto’s posting schedule and Len Sassaman’s life events. Satoshi’s posts were often sporadic, with notable gaps that coincide with periods when Sassaman would have been engaged in intensive academic work or personal commitments. Additionally, Satoshi’s final known communications occurred around the same time that Sassaman’s health began to deteriorate.

Satoshi Nakamoto’s disappearance from the public eye also corresponds closely with Sassaman’s increasing preoccupation with his health and personal matters, potentially explaining the abrupt end of Satoshi’s activity. The timeline of Satoshi’s public interactions matches periods in Sassaman’s life where he might have had the bandwidth to contribute to Bitcoin’s development, and later, when his commitments or health issues might have forced him to step away.

Len Sassaman’s Death and Satoshi’s Last Correspondence

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence in the case for Len Sassaman being Satoshi Nakamoto is the timing of Sassaman’s death in 2011. Sassaman tragically took his own life on July 2011, and this closely corresponds with the disappearance of Satoshi Nakamoto from public life. Satoshi’s last known email correspondence was in April 2011, just a few months before Sassaman’s death.

The timing has led some to speculate that Sassaman’s passing marked the end of Satoshi’s involvement with Bitcoin. Moreover, the fact that Satoshi never reappeared or publicly commented on Bitcoin’s later developments could suggest that Sassaman, if he was indeed Satoshi, passed away without revealing his identity. The synchronicity between these two events — Satoshi’s disappearance and Sassaman’s death — remains one of the strongest circumstantial links between the two identities. Just three years later, on August 28th, 2014, Hal Finney also passed away due to illness. This meant that within just five years of the first Bitcoin block being mined, both the first sender and receiver were no longer alive.

Conclusion

The case for Len Sassaman as Satoshi Nakamoto is compelling, built on a confluence of evidence including his deep involvement in cryptography and privacy protocols, his academic background, his writing style, and his proximity to the key figures who were instrumental in Bitcoin’s early development. While definitive proof may remain elusive, the alignment of Sassaman’s life, work, and the timeline of Satoshi’s disappearance makes him one of the most credible candidates for the identity of Bitcoin’s mysterious creator.