FBI Sidesteps Second FOIA Request for Satoshi Nakamoto Files

• The identity of Satoshi Nakamoto is an enduring mystery.
• The FBI refuses to disclose what it knows about Nakamoto.
• It seems that Bitcoin’s creator is not motivated by fame or money.

Speculation surrounds the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto , with some viewing him as a visionary who sought to undermine the corrupt banking system by creating Bitcoin. On the other hand, the polar opposite theory suggests Nakamoto’s identity might be part of a U.S. government psyop to snare libertarians critical of fiat currency.

To uncover the truth, investigative journalist Dave Troy filed a FOIA request with the FBI in early August, seeking information on Nakamoto. The FBI, however, denied the request, citing exemptions from disclosure. Undeterred, Troy submitted a second request, only to face another stonewalling at the hands of the agency.

The FBI Denies Troy Again

After his initial FOIA request was denied, Troy submitted a second request to the FBI, hoping for a different outcome. This request aimed to uncover any information the agency might have on the mysterious Bitcoin creator, Satoshi Nakamoto .

Troy shared an update on the outcome of the second FOIA request, stating the FBI remains tight-lipped on the matter. The agency repeated its earlier stance, neither confirming nor denying the existence of any records related to Nakamoto, citing exemptions under FOIA law. 

The FBI further stated that acknowledging such information could be an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

Troy reemphasized that his intention was not to reveal Nakamoto’s identity but to understand what the government knows about the Bitcoin creator. Based on the FBI’s reply, Troy speculated that the agency either knows Nakamoto’s identity or has misinterpreted the nature of his request.

Nakamoto Mystery

Satoshi Nakamoto’s last known communication was a December 2010 post on the Bitcointalk forum, where he updated the latest Bitcoin build. 

Since then, Nakamoto has not made any further contact, and the 1.1 million BTC he mined remains untouched, deepening the mystery surrounding his disappearance.

Drawing on the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov , Bitcoin advocate Sylvain Saurel suggested that Nakamoto disappeared because he predicted a time when Western governments would target freedom and privacy .

On the Flipside

• Bitcoin transactions are not private.
• A key reason regulators consider Bitcoin decentralized is that there is no leader.

Why This Matters

The disappearance of Satoshi Nakamoto suggests he does not have the same motives as most other individuals.

The FBI evaded Troy’s initial FOIA request:
Satoshi Identity Mystery Endures as FBI Dodges FOI Request

The WazirX hack stokes concerns about the wider impact of crypto exchange:
WazirX’s Restructuring Sparks Fresh Crypto Contagion Fears