If Satoshi was not an unknown person, would Bitcoin have turned out different?

[gabriella]

if everything about bitcoin stays the same, except when satoshi released it, he was recognized by his real person.

say he was a computer scientist, similar to linus torvalds creating Linux.

would bitcoin have turned out different then?

[BTCIndia]

Yes! Things would have been much slower. Right now due to anonymity of creator, things are pretty dramatic and interesting.

[BTCisthefuture]

I think it would have still caught on due to the benefits it offers.  But certainly having a face to put on it probably would have resulted in him getting heavily questioned/grilled  by various governments and media etc etc ,  depending on how well spoken he is or how he handles the pressure that itself could have changed the course slightly.

[Rannasha]

Critics would have used flaws of the person to attack Bitcoin. It's better for Satoshi to remain an unknown, that way Bitcoin stands on its own properties, without being exposed to the character traits of its creator.

[Cryptopher]

Yeah, I think that anonymity removes the possibility of attempts to impeach Satoshi with intent to discredit Bitcoin.

[rext]

he would be ultra famous lol, cameras following him everywhere he goes.

[Sutters Mill]

The media would have also sensationalised his person, painting his mistakes in headlines and attributing the same faults to bitcoin loosely. They'll be all over everything. Was he in any way drunk or intoxicated while creating the bitcoin protocol? If so, the whole thing is a sham!!!!!! you know how it goes. Look at the daily mail in the UK.

[jarhed]

Bitcoin = open source...........thus............Satoshi matter only if code was closed.

Go and ask Adam Back, author of Hashcash(1997).  <<<----Bitcoin's engine.

[oakpacific]

Satoshi's diappearance, is probably one of the most important, if not the most important thing ever happened to Bitcoin after its creation.

Had he not disappeared, some of the following would happen:

1.He would have been hated everywhere for his supposedly "unfairly obtained" wealth, and accused for so-called "premining".

2.He would also have been suspected now and then for trying to influence the Bitcoin client development for his own benefits, even if he had delegated most of the development to others long ago, heck, people would even appeal to him if their proposals are rejected by the core developers, he would be in a dilemma of trying to say things that can appease almost everyone, which is an impossible task.

3.Whatever he said would be interpreted as an attempt to manipulate the market to protect his wealth, and big-time investors would hesitate from buying, due to worries that Satoshi may try to pump-and-dump on them.

4.A legion of government agencies would have gone after him, threatening him with all kinds of lawsuits, and to pay taxes.

5. He would become the target of lots of kidnappers, forced to pay huge amounts of ransoms, serving as an ominous sign of what's to come to lots of Bitcoin holders, if Bitcoin price were to reach a point.


In short, with greater power comes greater responsibility, Satoshi knows that no single human can handle such responsibility as the anchorman of Bitcoin so he willingly gave up his power, it's  wisdom like that allowed him to create Bitcoin.

Satoshi also made a powerful statement for cryptocurrency and decentralized system in general with his disapperance: in this time and age, you can create something as disruptive as Bitcoin, be in control of vast wealth, yet still remain anonymous.

[Alligator-Al]

I think Linus Torvalds is an excellent comparison.  He is the benevolent leader of the Linux kernel.  Satoshi could have taken that role with the bitcoin protocol.  The only difference I see is that he has a huge amount of wealth whereas Linus never really got stinking rich off of Linux.  So people would have always suspected ulterior motives from Satoshi in that role.  I think a good chunk of the population are envious by nature and could have never looked past his wealth.  People with vested interests would have attacked him on that point alone, somehow using that as a club to prove that everything he does is in his own self interest.  Linus never had to worry about that.  Now if he had given it all to charity and taken on the role of benevolent leader of the bitcoin protocol he could be a strong voice for it and that would strengthen the bitcoin protocol as it would have a clear leader.  

[ak84]

Kinda Off topic but I think Satoshi is working on the next big "breakthrough". Kind of crazy if he can pull off a world-changing invention / discovery TWICE in his lifetime. He'd be at Einstein / Isaac Newton level.

[bitpop]

Yup I know I wouldn't have taken interest when dear leader had millions of dollars. I swear he's some kind of alien or saint. He invented something akin to a miracle then disappeared at the exact time. I'm selling if he comes back though.

[Abdussamad]

I think Linus Torvalds is an excellent comparison.  He is the benevolent leader of the Linux kernel.  Satoshi could have taken that role with the bitcoin protocol.

The official title is Benevolent Dictator of Planet Linux

The only difference I see is that he has a huge amount of wealth whereas Linus never really got stinking rich off of Linux.

He got a million bucks worth of Redhat shares. I am sure there were other opportunities to earn too. Nowhere near what he deserves but he isn't exactly a pauper.

OT, if Satoshi were well known he would be in jail. Or on the run. Another possibility is that Bitcoin would turn into more of a cult than it already is.

[bg002h]

Fewer would want to participate if they felt they were just working to make him rich. As it stands now, he has not touched but a tiny fraction (if that) of his coins, so it's unclear if he ever intends to become known and/or spend his coins.

[hilariousandco]

if everything about bitcoin stays the same, except when satoshi released it, he was recognized by his real person.

say he was a computer scientist, similar to linus torvalds creating Linux.

would bitcoin have turned out different then?

Doubt anything would be different, but the enigmatic nature of Bitcoin's creator may add to its allure and drives interest and publicity speculating on who it actually is.

I'm fine without ever knowing who (t)he(y) are/is. I wonder if the coins he owns will ever move though. People will shit a universe-sized brick if even one moves or goes on a journey haha.

[Sava]

I think yes ! Anonymity is like a magic

[bitpop]

Crazy how he hung himself and became a martyr.

[rext]

lol being mysterious is part of the charm.

[Alligator-Al]

The official title is Benevolent Dictator of Planet Linux

woops..ahem...yes Dictator.... <chuckle>

[chaoticbrain]

He might have been thrown in jail, probably the only difference.