Doesn't the fact that this thing was created by someone who can't be ....

[ragmondo]

.... identified bother anybody?

Please don't judge me as a naysayer. In fact the more I read about the bitcoin phenomenon the more I am hooked.. If only I didn't have such large outgoings right now !!

But the biggest thing that sticks in my mind is the fact that Satoshi - the genius that he is - hasn't been truly identified or congratulated for his work so far.

Now obviously we can't compare this to fiats, but every other technical and crypto invention out there can be traced back (although sometimes with a bit of founder-discrepancy) to the inventor .. apart from this.

Any comments ?

[legitnick]

Doesn't matter who invented it all that matters is that it works.

[Luno]

I would be nice if we knew that for instance that a heavy weight like Richard Stallman was behind this, but it is not important. the Idea behind and the transparancy in the code is enough assurance. Bitcoin is backed by the people and can not be taken, not even by it's creator.

[mufa23]

Even before I knew who he is, I appreciated his work. Not trying to kiss ass, but he's made a wonderful product which I believe to be beneficial to the free market and jump started other crypto-currencies. Does this bother me? No. What bothers me are celebrity magazines, television with 500 channels, and some guy's name on my underwear.

[lassdas]

1+1=2
Why should i bother what genius came to that conclusion first?
He/she was right and we all know that, that's all that matters.

[Tessellated]

You can accomplish amazing things without revealing your identity, it does not diminish the accomplishment.

[Mike Christ]

There's something noble about sharing what your hard work creates without want for fame.

[ragmondo]

Great replies so far. ..... just checking -  not a gram of suspicion from anybody ? 

[Isokivi]

.... identified bother anybody?

Please don't judge me as a naysayer. In fact the more I read about the bitcoin phenomenon the more I am hooked.. If only I didn't have such large outgoings right now !!

But the biggest thing that sticks in my mind is the fact that Satoshi - the genius that he is - hasn't been truly identified or congratulated for his work so far.

Now obviously we can't compare this to fiats, but every other technical and crypto invention out there can be traced back (although sometimes with a bit of founder-discrepancy) to the inventor .. apart from this.

Any comments ?

If Satoshi had revealed he's identity he would have become a public figure and possibly a political target for the rest of he's life, generally something that the sort of person who develops software would propably be keen on avoiding. I can completeley understand why he/she/they remain anonymous and it does not bother me, the sourcecode has been read by thousands of capable persons and no back door exists.

[John (John K.)]

Great replies so far. ..... just checking -  not a gram of suspicion from anybody ? 

If Bitcoin were a closed system, I would be suspicious. It's open source and anyone suspecting anything can review the code to their satisfaction.

[🏰 TradeFortress 🏰]

Great replies so far. ..... just checking -  not a gram of suspicion from anybody ? 

If Bitcoin were a closed system, I would be suspicious. It's open source and anyone suspecting anything can review the code to their satisfaction.

And while Satoshi created the white paper and basically how it works, many developers have contributed to Bitcoin. That's the nature of open source development

[FreeMoney]

It has nothing whatsoever to do with the man. It might speed adoption that he can't be smeared as a kitten rapist but that's only because of mood affiliation fallacy or something like that.

[thebaron]

All I know is that Satoshi is comfortably wealthy now.

[DannyHamilton]

Great replies so far. ..... just checking -  not a gram of suspicion from anybody ? 

Suspicion of what?  I've read the code.  I'm not sure what you are thinking there is to be suspicious of.

[niko]

Great replies so far. ..... just checking -  not a gram of suspicion from anybody ?  

Suspicion of what? (I know, DannyHamilton beat me to it.)  The paper is there for you to read, and so is the code. Not just to read, but to build upon, improve it, ruin it, ignore it, use it. Lots of people have contributed to Bitcoin, before and after "Satoshi".

Let me ask you this: what would change regarding your and my use of Bitcoin if it turned out that "Satoshi" was a CS university professor? Or that he was a she? Or a shemale? Or a group of quants? Or employees of the Chinese government? Or former employees of the Chinese or Romanian or Irish Central Bank? Or a retired cryptanalyst and his 30-year old wife, who works for the Federal Reserve?  

Does any of this change anything in the source code and in various implementations the community is working on?
 

[notme]

Let me ask you this: what would change regarding your and my use of Bitcoin if it turned out that "Satoshi" was a CS university professor? Or that he was a she? Or a shemale? Or a group of quants? Or employees of the Chinese government? Or former employees of the Chinese or Romanian or Irish Central Bank? Or a retired cryptanalyst and his 30-year old wife, who works for the Federal Reserve?  

Or (since you missed the most obvious which I've already proposed) a Frankenstein's monster of Hitler and Stalin.

You guys are crazy.

It was Ben Bernanke.

[Johnathan]

The paper is there for you to read, and so is the code. Not just to read, but to build upon, improve it, ruin it, ignore it, use it. Lots of people have contributed to Bitcoin, before and after "Satoshi".

Let me ask you this: what would change regarding your and my use of Bitcoin if it turned out that "Satoshi" was a CS university professor? Or that he was a she? Or a shemale? Or a group of quants? Or employees of the Chinese government? Or former employees of the Chinese or Romanian or Irish Central Bank? Or a retired cryptanalyst and his 30-year old wife, who works for the Federal Reserve?  

Does any of this change anything in the source code and in various implementations the community is working on?

Indeed, sometimes it seems that the Bitcoin protocol must have been developed over many years by many smart people, then sent back into an alternate past (ours) as a fully-formed gift for us to benefit from.  Whoever it was, thanks

[sounds]

I took the pictures of Hitler and Stalin and tried to come up with a Frankenstein's monster combination of the two. I've put the originals in the background for comparison, what do you think?

[ElectricMucus]

I took the pictures of Hitler and Stalin and tried to come up with a Frankenstein's monster combination of the two. I've put the originals in the background for comparison, what do you think?

That you have a bad taste of humor!

[ragmondo]

ok - so perhaps the avoidance of being  political target was incredible foresight on his behalf - after all if you could predict that the most written about early adopters (note I did not say the most use - but just what the press focus on) of this currency is silk road, gambling in the US etc etc - then wouldn't any govt. love it if they could also drag up an email or two from the past where the founder of this "criminal enabling" currency also once attended a "99% rally". Cue daily mail rant ...

Please note that I am using quotes as this is exactly what the anti-bitcoin press would love to be able to print.