HBO is facing criticism after the highly anticipated premiere of the documentary Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery.
The film suggests that Peter Todd, a prominent Bitcoin developer, might be the real person behind the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s creator. The documentary, which aired on October 8, claims that Todd, a student when Bitcoin’s whitepaper was published in 2008, may have adopted the Satoshi identity to boost the credibility of the cryptocurrency. Director Cullen Hoback cites an old chat log and a 2010 post on BitcoinTalk, suggesting Todd mistakenly posted under his real name instead of using Satoshi’s pseudonym.
However, Todd has dismissed this theory as “ridiculous” and “conspiracy thinking based on coincidences.” In an interview with CoinDesk, he remarked:
“People will find this amusing when they watch the documentary.”
The crypto community has sharply criticized the film. “Cobra,” the BitcoinTalk administrator, voiced concerns for Todd’s safety, while BitMEX Research called the theory “absurd.” Adam Cochran from Cinneamhain Venturescondemned the documentary as “irresponsible,” and Jameson Lopp, co-founder of Casa, noted that Satoshi is likely “laughing at this speculation.”
Meanwhile, the prediction market Polymarket recorded over $44 million in bets regarding the film’s claims. Early predictions favored Len Sassaman, but ultimately, the “Other/Multiple” option won.