What if Satoshi Nakamoto’s disappearance took an unexpected turn, introducing a new candidate with a strikingly similar life story?
The identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic figure behind the world’s oldest cryptocurrency, remains one of the most significant mysteries in the world of crypto. Despite the considerable passage of time since the release of the original Bitcoin whitepaper, the author’s true identity continues to be a subject of debate.
Who is Len Sassaman?
The latest individual to enter the realm of potential Satoshi candidates is Leonard “Len” Harris Sassaman, born in 1980 in Pennsylvania, USA. After completing his early education, Sassaman received a diploma from The Hill School in 1998.
In the same year, he joined the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), an organization dedicated to the development of Internet standards and protocols. By 1999, Sassaman had relocated to San Francisco and become an active member of the cypherpunk community, known for its interest in privacy and cryptography.
Sassaman eventually rose to prominence within the cypherpunk community, where his fascination with privacy deepened. In 2002, he co-founded the CodeCon hacking convention, further solidifying his reputation in the field. In 2006, he embarked on doctoral studies in cybersecurity and cryptography at the University of Louvain.
During his time at Louvain, Sassaman was exposed to various projects, including Philip Zimmermann’s Pretty Good Privacy software. He collaborated with Zimmermann on the development of the Zimmerman-Sassaman key-signing protocol, a novel method for creating digital signatures. Additionally, Sassaman gained recognition for identifying vulnerabilities in the X.509 standards for public key certificates and actively participating in cryptography conferences.
Tragically, in 2011, Sassaman took his own life, casting a shadow over his promising career in cryptography.
What did Sassaman say about Satoshi Nakamoto?
Interestingly, there are no documented quotes from Sassaman regarding Bitcoin or its elusive creator. This absence of public statements has fueled speculation that the cryptographer may not have been a fan of Bitcoin and may have even wished for its downfall.
Is it possible that Sassaman was the true creator of Bitcoin? While this connection may seem tenuous, since 2021, various circumstantial details about his life have raised questions.
Sassaman had collaborations with several cryptographers who were previously considered potential Bitcoin creators, including Philip Zimmermann and computer scientist Hal Finney. Moreover, Sassaman’s involvement in developing anonymous mail servers and contributions to Bitcoin’s blockchain have further fueled intrigue.
Nevertheless, disputes abound, particularly regarding the significance of the Bitcoin monument dedicated to Sassaman. While some believe it was added to acknowledge his contributions to cryptography, the extent of his involvement in Bitcoin’s creation remains uncertain.
Perhaps the most contentious aspect centers on the circumstances of Sassaman’s death and one of Nakamoto’s final known emails. Nakamoto’s cryptic message before departing—indicating that he had “moved on to other things” and left Bitcoin in “good hands”—has given rise to theories, including the possibility of a veiled announcement of suicide or disenchantment with Bitcoin’s development.
A probability test to ascertain whether Len Sassaman is Satoshi reveals mixed results. While there is no evidence of Sassaman using tools, private keys, or accounts linked to Nakamoto, he was among the email recipients who received the Bitcoin whitepaper. Furthermore, his computer data remains inaccessible, potentially explaining the lack of changes in Satoshi’s cryptocurrency wallet over the past decade.
Sassaman’s cryptographic expertise and contributions to various projects demonstrate his capabilities to create Bitcoin. Notably, he also worked on the TCP/IP protocol, the foundation upon which Bitcoin operates.
Intriguingly, there are similarities in communication and language between Sassaman and Nakamoto, despite Sassaman’s American origin. Both exhibited a tendency to use British English in their writings. However, it’s essential to note that Sassaman’s skepticism about Bitcoin, particularly its public transaction record, diverges from Satoshi’s vision of an open ledger.
Ultimately, the crypto community remains divided on whether Len Sassaman is Satoshi Nakamoto, with those supporting this theory constituting a minority. The enigma surrounding the true identity of Bitcoin’s creator endures, adding another layer of intrigue to the world of cryptocurrency.