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Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto discovered in California?

Newsweek wasn't able to confirm it, but has compiled evidence suggesting Nakamoto is living in the US and is now 64 years old.

Don Reisinger
CNET contributor Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
Don Reisinger
2 min read

Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto might have been discovered, despite his best efforts to maintain anonymity over the last several years.

Newsweek reported Thursday that it spent considerable time tracking down the father of Bitcoin, only to discover that he might be living in Temple City, Calif. It took a winding road to reach a 64-year-old man named Satoshi Nakamoto who not only had no desire to speak with Newsweek, but called the police on its reporter. When the police arrived, Nakamoto -- who Newsweek had been contacting and trying to track down for weeks -- finally had something to say.

"I am no longer involved in [Bitcoin] and I cannot discuss it," he reportedly told Newsweek. "It's been turned over to other people. They are in charge of it now. I no longer have any connection."

According to Newsweek, the man who spoke in front of police that day lives in a modest home in California, despite holding $400 million worth of bitcoins. Newsweek described the man as "wearing a rumpled T-shirt, old blue jeans and white gym socks, without shoes, like he has left the house in a hurry."

Nakamoto has become a household name in technology circles, due mainly to the increasing popularity of Bitcoin. Although he's generally believed to be the father of the cryptocurrency, he has never actually revealed himself. What's worse, Satoshi Nakamoto is a somewhat common name, according to Newsweek, further complicating matters of identification.

Even so, as Newsweek continued to investigate this man in California, the more the puzzle pieces seemed to fall into place. Nakamoto is known as a genius among family members -- all of whom had no idea he might have been involved in the creation of Bitcoin -- and seems to have the requisite skills to develop the cryptocurrency, graduating from California State Polytechnic University with a degree in physics. He also worked in security and communications for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Still, the Newsweek piece makes clear that the man identified in California may not in fact be the person behind Bitcoin. There are, after all, people who have claimed to be the real Nakamoto in Japan. There's also the possibility that Satoshi Nakamoto is not the real name of Bitcoin's founder.

So, what's the true story? At the end of the day, no one knows. But it appears possible that the Nakamoto in California is the Nakamoto who started Bitcoin.