Name: SCMP
Telephone: +852-2680-8888

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

McClatchy-Tribune

The day started with a possible answer to one of the digital era's greatest mysteries: who created the bitcoin virtual currency that has become a multibillion-dollar global phenomenon?
From there, with the revelation by Newsweek magazine that it might be Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto, a 64-year-old Japanese American living in Temple City, California, the day got wilder.
It featured a media frenzy on his front lawn and a car chase as Nakamoto rode in a Prius driven by an Associated Press reporter trying to elude other reporters. And then, a denial from Nakamoto, as he climbed into a lift at the downtown offices of AP, that he was the creator of bitcoin.
"I never was involved," he told a Los Angeles Times reporter, saying there was only one reason he had agreed to even talk to a reporter. "It was all for a free lunch."

The remarks hinted at some finality but in truth only contributed to the murkiness surrounding the true identity of "Satoshi Nakamoto", the mastermind behind bitcoin.
The Newsweek story also sparked a backlash from members of the bitcoin community.
"He always used non-tracking e-mails and did everything he could to stay anonymous, so it's difficult for me to understand why he would use his real name," said Adam Draper, who runs a start-up that invests in bitcoin-related companies.
Following a trail of clues over several months, Newsweek reporter Leah McGrath Goodman believed she had tracked down the real bitcoin creator. The article said Satoshi Nakamoto was not a fake name.
The story also said he had a career in technology that included some classified work for major corporations and US defence agencies. Nakamoto's modest home surprised the reporter because the real bitcoin creator owns about US$400 million in bitcoins.
The bitcoin revelation was so startling that, if true, even his own family could not believe it.
"For weeks my family and I have contemplated the validity of it and most of us have made the assumption that it's false," his son, Reilly Nakamoto, said.
Still, national and foreign media began camping out in front of the two-storey house in a nondescript neighbourhood.
Several hours later, Nakamoto announced he was not going to talk to anyone until he got some lunch first. An AP reporter offered to buy him lunch, and, to the dismay of the other media members, the pair climbed into a Prius and drove to Mako Sushi in Arcadia, California.
Several reporters followed them to Mako and tried to join the conversation. Nakamoto and the AP reporter then hopped back into their car and for the next hour or so drove around with at least six other journalists tailing them.
Finally, the Prius stopped at the downtown AP building. A Times reporter followed Nakamoto into the lift, where he made his denial.
A few hours later, AP published an article quoting Nakamoto as saying he had never heard of bitcoin until his son told him he had been contacted by a reporter three weeks ago.


Bitcoin was once dominated by China, but the Trump bump is shifting momentum to US

Crypto mogul Justin Sun invests US$30 million in Trump tokens after banana artwork deal

Bitcoin’s march towards historic US$100,000 level stalls amid crypto investor caution

Bitcoin’s march towards historic US$100,000 level stalls as crypto investors show caution

Bitcoin

Media frenzy in US after Newsweek says it tracked down bitcoin's creator

Satoshi Nakamoto, reportedly the creator of the virtual currency bitcoin, is followed by eager reporters as he leaves his home in California on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Satoshi Nakamoto, identified as the mythical creator of as he walks from his home to a car. Photo: MCT

The home of the man believed to be Bitcoin currency founder Satoshi Nakamoto is seen in Temple City, California. Photo: Reuters

Dorian S Nakamoto (centre) waves away a group of journalists, seeking comment after the Newsweek cover story. Photo: Bloomberg

Dorian S Nakamoto waved away journalists who knocked on his door but later he agreed to an interview with only one reporter and asked for a "free lunch". Photo: Bloomberg

Bitcoin value makes it worthwhile target for hackers

Members of a bitcoin trading club meet in Tokyo on February 27.  A US$500 million heist that forced the Japanese exchange Mt Gox into bankruptcy has raised doubts about the bitcoin's ability to emerge as an alternative currency. Photo: AFP

Members of a bitcoin trading club meet in Tokyo on February 27.  A US$500 million heist that forced the Japanese exchange Mt Gox into bankruptcy has raised doubts about the bitcoin's ability to emerge as an alternative currency. Photo: Agence France Presse

Media frenzy in US after Newsweek says it tracked down bitcoin's creator

After car chase, Japanese American identified by Newsweek issues denial