Adam Back Disputes Hal Finney as Bitcoin Creator Amid New Evidence

Blockstream CEO Adam Back has firmly dismissed the long-standing theory that Hal Finney is Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin. Back referenced a detailed blog post by Casa CTO Jameson Lopp that offers time-stamped evidence discrediting Finney as the cryptocurrency’s originator.

Hal Finney, a prominent cypherpunk and the recipient of the first-ever Bitcoin transaction, has often topped the list of potential Satoshi candidates. However, Lopp's analysis, shared in 2023, presents compelling proof against that narrative. He cites an April 2009 10-mile race in Santa Barbara that Finney ran while Satoshi was simultaneously emailing Bitcoin developer Mike Hearn. Photographic evidence and email timestamps align to show that Finney couldn't have been behind the Satoshi correspondence during the race.

Further discrediting the theory, Finney was diagnosed with ALS in 2009 and progressively lost the ability to type by mid-2010. In contrast, Satoshi remained highly active in coding and online discussions through August 2010—activity that required both physical dexterity and mental stamina, unlikely for someone in Finney’s condition at the time.

Adam Back, himself a renowned cryptographer mentioned in the Bitcoin white paper, has also been speculated to be Satoshi. However, he continues to deny any involvement in Bitcoin’s creation.

The mystery of Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity remains unresolved, with theories ranging from individual cypherpunks to far-fetched ideas—such as the suggestion by former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao that Bitcoin could have been created by artificial intelligence from the future.

Despite growing clues, the true identity of Bitcoin’s creator remains one of the most enduring enigmas in crypto history, fueling ongoing debate and speculation in the digital asset community.