Sean Murray: Jack Dorsey is Satoshi Nakamoto

New Theory on Bitcoin's Mysterious Creator

Sean Murray, editor-in-chief of deBanked, has put forward a controversial theory suggesting that Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and Block (formerly Square), is actually Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin.

Murray compiled a series of coincidences and circumstantial evidence that he believes support his claim. While the theory remains unproven, it has reignited speculation about the identity of Bitcoin's elusive founder.

1. Early Interest in Cryptography & Cypherpunks
   • Dorsey was involved in cypherpunk discussions in his college years and subscribed to related newsletters.
   • He reportedly took cryptography-heavy courses at university.
2. Dorsey's Writings & Bitcoin's Ideology
   • In the early 2000s, Dorsey wrote about ending people's reliance on the U.S. dollar and envisioned a "barter network"—similar to Bitcoin's concept.
3. Time Stamps & Hacking Habits
   • Dorsey's autobiography (published in 2003) describes staying up until 4 a.m. working on cryptography.
   • All original Bitcoin source code documents were created around the same early morning hours.
4. Suspicious Date Alignments
   • First Bitcoin transaction took place on Dorsey's mother's birthday.
   • Satoshi Nakamoto joined a Bitcoin forum on November 19—which happens to be Dorsey's birthday.
5. Disappearance of Satoshi & Twitter's WikiLeaks Case
   • In December 2010, Satoshi advised forum members not to donate Bitcoin to WikiLeaks.
   • On December 14, 2010, Twitter received a court order to provide data on WikiLeaks.
   • The day before the order, Satoshi vanished from online activity.
6. Dorsey's Career Shift Matches Satoshi's Departure
   • In March 2011, Dorsey was appointed executive chairman of Twitter while remaining CEO of Square (now Block).
   • Around the same time, Satoshi sent his final known email before disappearing.
   • Dorsey later admitted he was overwhelmed running two companies, mirroring the timing of Satoshi's exit from Bitcoin development.

In 2020, journalist Lex Fridman directly asked Dorsey if he was Satoshi Nakamoto. Instead of outright denying it—like Nick Szabo and Adam Back—Dorsey responded:

"If I were, would I tell you?"

Murray argues that this response is uncharacteristic compared to others who have firmly denied involvement, making it seem as if Dorsey is hiding something.

Despite these coincidences, the theory remains speculative:

• Many experts still favor candidates like Hal Finney, Nick Szabo, or Adam Back as the real Satoshi.
• Dorsey's tech background focuses on social media and payments, rather than deep cryptographic research like Szabo or Back.
• Some suggest that Satoshi could have been a group of people, not just one individual.

While Murray's theory is intriguing, it lacks definitive proof. However, the timeline of events, cryptographic background, and Satoshi's sudden disappearance all raise interesting questions about Dorsey's potential involvement.

Until Satoshi's identity is confirmed, speculation will continue—but if Dorsey is Bitcoin's creator, he's keeping that secret very well.