Bettors on Polymarket, a decentralized prediction platform, have placed Len Sassaman as the leading candidate for HBO’s upcoming reveal of Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, with a significant margin of 55%.
The betting pool, which has attracted more than $500,000 as of Oct. 4, focuses on Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery, a documentary set to air next week.
Directed by Cullen Hoback, the documentary has fueled speculation that it will identify Nakamoto, although neither HBO nor Hoback has directly confirmed this. However, the trailers and promotional material, as well as a Politico report, have hinted at a possible revelation.
Len Sassaman
Sassaman was a developer who worked on PGP encryption and remailer technology, contributing to privacy and cryptography advancements. He collaborated with key figures like David Chaum and Hal Finney, whose work influenced Bitcoin.
Furthermore, his involvement in the Cypherpunk movement and advocacy for privacy-enhancing technologies align closely with Bitcoin’s foundational principles, making him a strong candidate. The Bitcoin blockchain also includes a tribute to Sassaman, adding weight to his connection with the flagship crypto’s origins.
Sassaman tragically died in 2011 after battling depression and neurological disorders. His death coincided with the disappearance of Satoshi, prompting speculation about a possible connection.
Other candidates
Other notable figures, such as Finney and Blockstream CEO Adam Back, trail behind Sassaman in the betting pool with roughly 10% of the votes, while Nick Szabo and Paul Le Roux round out the top five with 7.5% and 4.7% of the votes.
Craig Wright, who has long claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, also remains in the top five with less than 1% of the vote despite ongoing legal challenges to his assertion.
Notably, no substantial evidence has ever been made public to confirm the myriad speculation about Satoshi’s real identity. Many of his earliest collaborators have denied knowing who he is, while countless theories have been debunked.
In fact, it is still unclear whether Satoshi Nakamoto was an individual or a group of people, making the Bitcoin creator’s identity the greatest mystery of our internet age amid its meteoric rise.
Polymarket bettors will win if HBO names Sassaman as the primary individual behind Bitcoin’s creation. If the documentary suggests shared responsibility or another person entirely, the market will not resolve in Sassaman’s favor.