{"id":"peter-todd","version":1,"language":"en","title":"Peter Todd","hidden":false,"content":"**Peter Todd** is a known [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) core developer and cryptographer who has gained recognition for his contributions to the Bitcoin ecosystem. On October 9, 2024, HBO’s documentary 'Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery' identified Peter Todd as Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator — [Satoshi Nakamoto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/satoshi-nakamoto). [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-qvtujy674j)[\\[3\\]](#cite-id-fvpzefn3nzo)  \n  \nTodd denied being Satoshi Nakamoto via a tweet saying;  \n  \n> \"I'm not Satoshi.\"[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-g4kl2nvvxeb)  \n  \n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](8yah3N9n84k)$$  \n  \n# Overview  \n  \nBorn and raised in Canada, Peter Todd graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto. He previously told a podcast he was about 15 years old when he first started communicating with key crypto influencers, known as the cypherpunks. [\\[8\\]](#cite-id-eyfazrfy2z)[\\[9\\]](#cite-id-poo990we8le)  \n  \nAs an early contributor to the Bitcoin codebase, Todd is among a few individuals who communicated directly with [Satoshi](https://iq.wiki/wiki/satoshi-nakamoto) before their disappearance in 2011. He previously confirmed that he was in his early teens when he started communication with Hal Finney and Adam Back, two prominent Bitcoin pioneers. [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-fvpzefn3nzo)  \n  \nHe has worked on various blockchain projects and is best known as a Bitcoin Core Developer at Coinkite since 2014. He has held roles in several projects, including serving as Chief Scientist at Mastercoin and [Dark Wallet](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dark-wallet) \\- a discontinued [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) wallet created to improve the anonymity of Bitcoin transactions. [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-fvpzefn3nzo)  \n  \nTodd is also the founder of OpenTimestamps, a project aimed at providing a decentralized timestamping service. [\\[5\\]](#cite-id-k0yzwsbt1v)  \n  \nIn 2016, he participated in [Zcash’s](https://iq.wiki/wiki/zcash) trusted setup ceremony, helping set up cryptographic keys for securing wallets and [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) protocols. He later called his involvement “pointless” because he didn’t think “the Zcash trusted setup should be called a multiparty computation.” [\\[10\\]](#cite-id-bc5jcdu8phf)[\\[4\\]](#cite-id-2sb89a6a1oi)  \n  \n# HBO's Documentary & Peter Todd  \n  \nOn October 3, 2024, HBO released a trailer for the documentary called - \"Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery\" which claimed to have cracked the true identity of [Satoshi Nakamoto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/satoshi-nakamoto). The documentary is a work of Emmy-nominated Cullen Hoback, who received critical acclaim for his series \"Q: Into the Storm,\" which exposed the creators of the QAnon conspiracy theory. [\\[6\\]](#cite-id-ey6a0092wgc)  \n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](iSF0KGsFuI8)$$  \nOn October 9, 2024, HBO's documentary 'Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery' identified Peter Todd as a possible candidate for the identity of Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-fvpzefn3nzo)[\\[10\\]](#cite-id-bc5jcdu8phf)  \n  \nThe documentary builds a case by highlighting Todd’s deep expertise in cryptography and blockchain technology, as well as his early involvement in Bitcoin development. [\\[7\\]](#cite-id-89041pg9u7e)  \n  \nAs a key contributor to the Bitcoin codebase, Todd actively participated in discussions and collaborated with prominent figures during Bitcoin's early years. His use of pseudonyms in online cryptography and Bitcoin forums, mirroring Nakamoto's preference for anonymity, further fuels speculation. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-2sb89a6a1oi)  \n  \nThe documentary also draws connections between Todd’s work and several projects he has championed, raising intriguing questions about his potential role in Bitcoin’s creation. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-2sb89a6a1oi)[\\[7\\]](#cite-id-89041pg9u7e)  \n  \nIn an email to [CoinDesk](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coindesk) before the documentary's release, Todd reportedly denied he was the Bitcoin creator:  \n  \n> \"Of course I'm not Satoshi,\" he said.  \n> \"It's ironic that a director who is also known for a documentary on QAnon has resorted to QAnon style coincidence-based conspiracy thinking here too.\" [\\[11\\]](#cite-id-gc3xamniq76)  \n  \nIn response to a thread on X originally posted by BitMEX Research, Todd further denies the claim saying *\"I'm not Satoshi.\"[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-g4kl2nvvxeb)*  \n  \nOn October 22, 2024, Wired reported that Peter Todd went into hiding due to an influx of financial requests and potential threats from those believing he possesses Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto's many-billion-dollar fortune, highlighting the real-world dangers of such public allegations. However, Todd tweeted that Wired's claim is \"exaggerated,\" offering as proof his appearance this week at a conference. [\\[12\\]](#cite-id-ounnrbs2z4)[\\[13\\]](#cite-id-5isgiv0ev8k)  \n  \nTodd also told *[Decrypt](https://iq.wiki/wiki/decrypt)* that being publicly branded as the elusive genius sitting on $74.4 billion worth of Bitcoin has forced him to go even further to defend himself.  \n  \n> “I have taken some security measures,” Todd said.   \n> “But it’s not a good idea to say exactly what I’ve done publicly. Best to keep the bad guys guessing.” [\\[14\\]](#cite-id-tuqbflhi6l)  \n  \n  \n","summary":"Peter Todd is a Bitcoin core developer and cryptographer, recently identified in a documentary as Satoshi Nakamoto, a claim he denies.","categories":[{"id":"people","title":"People in crypto"}],"promoted":0,"tags":[{"id":"Founders"},{"id":"PeopleInDeFi"}],"metadata":[{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"qvtujy674j\",\"url\":\"https://x.com/peterktodd\",\"description\":\"X profile\",\"timestamp\":1728469736337},{\"id\":\"g4kl2nvvxeb\",\"url\":\"https://x.com/peterktodd/status/1843789750983110697\",\"description\":\"Peter Todd's tweet denying the reveal\",\"timestamp\":1728470343813},{\"id\":\"fvpzefn3nzo\",\"url\":\"https://cryptobriefing.com/hbo-satoshi-speculation-documentary/\",\"description\":\"crypto briefing - who is peter todd\",\"timestamp\":1728470426603},{\"id\":\"2sb89a6a1oi\",\"url\":\"https://petertodd.org/\",\"description\":\"official website\",\"timestamp\":1728470819175},{\"id\":\"k0yzwsbt1v\",\"url\":\"https://petertodd.org/2016/opentimestamps-announcement\",\"description\":\"Opentimestamps\",\"timestamp\":1728470888131},{\"id\":\"ey6a0092wgc\",\"url\":\"https://youtu.be/iSF0KGsFuI8\",\"description\":\"Trailer for documentary\",\"timestamp\":1728471434702},{\"id\":\"89041pg9u7e\",\"url\":\"https://cryptobriefing.com/peter-todd-satoshi-documentary/\",\"description\":\"Peter Todd revealed as Satoshi Nakamoto in HBO’s documentary\\n\",\"timestamp\":1728471543599},{\"id\":\"eyfazrfy2z\",\"url\":\"https://www.politico.eu/article/peter-todd-bitcoin-creator-cullen-hoback-hbo-cryptocurrency-satoshi-nakamoto/\",\"description\":\"Bitcoin creator is Peter Todd, HBO film says\\n\",\"timestamp\":1728471681166},{\"id\":\"poo990we8le\",\"url\":\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yah3N9n84k\",\"description\":\"Peter Todd on the Essence of Bitcoin\\n\",\"timestamp\":1728471790240},{\"id\":\"bc5jcdu8phf\",\"url\":\"https://cointelegraph.com/news/peter-todd-who-is-the-man-hbo-named-satoshi\",\"description\":\"Who is Peter Todd, the man HBO identified as Satoshi Nakamoto?\\n\",\"timestamp\":1728472102583},{\"id\":\"gc3xamniq76\",\"url\":\"https://www.coindesk.com/business/2024/10/08/former-bitcoin-dev-peter-todd-denies-hes-satoshi-hours-before-hbo-documentary-airs/\",\"description\":\"Former Bitcoin Dev Peter Todd Denies He's Satoshi Hours Before HBO Documentary Airs\\n\",\"timestamp\":1728472797137},{\"id\":\"ounnrbs2z4\",\"url\":\"https://x.com/peterktodd/status/1849142321289318647\",\"description\":\"x - Todd's quote on presence\",\"timestamp\":1730203958729},{\"id\":\"5isgiv0ev8k\",\"url\":\"https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/10/23/peter-todd-bitcoin-developer-named-as-satoshi-nakamoto-in-hbo-documentary-goes-into-hiding/\",\"description\":\"Peter Todd Says Even Reports of His 'Going Into Hiding' Are Exaggerated\\n\",\"timestamp\":1730204086551},{\"id\":\"tuqbflhi6l\",\"url\":\"https://decrypt.co/288353/peter-todd-isnt-hiding-satoshi-nakamoto-bitcoin\",\"description\":\"Peter Todd Says He Isn't in Hiding After Being Fingered as Satoshi\",\"timestamp\":1730204108786}]"},{"id":"website","value":"https://petertodd.org/"},{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://x.com/peterktodd"},{"id":"github_profile","value":"https://github.com/petertodd"},{"id":"commit-message","value":"added news on Wired report & Todd's response"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"Qmc7JYxRuoNVJQVA6wCpgP8rmHswBe1DpfW7CnfHE71vW4"}],"user":{"id":"0x212Cb3F4aE6611054637f9f78F18fB628AD258bb"},"author":{"id":"0x212Cb3F4aE6611054637f9f78F18fB628AD258bb","profile":{"username":"zainab","avatar":"QmZzhTxNPnCKWpsPJtS1YeZUiZ5vFSNHCeStpigLs2pRNt"}},"media":[{"name":"iSF0KGsFuI8","id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSF0KGsFuI8","size":"0","type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"},{"name":"8yah3N9n84k","id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yah3N9n84k","size":"0","type":null,"source":"YOUTUBE"}],"views":631,"events":[],"linkedWikis":{"founders":[],"blockchains":[]},"founderWikis":[],"blockchainWikis":[],"images":[{"id":"QmbnE9DLSUPYp5tXuVERSS64NkF7kQzyYSfwNiDsUrFXZr","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"ipfs":"Qmc7JYxRuoNVJQVA6wCpgP8rmHswBe1DpfW7CnfHE71vW4","transactionHash":"0x34f5e4034a23a61d57976f1a1f87af2d6e012781a656a47fdc81c509b42c1b0a","created":"2024-10-09T11:04:26.508Z","updated":"2024-10-28T22:20:23.888Z"}