- Early emails between Satoshi Nakamoto and Adam Back from 2008-2009 reveal Nakamoto was seeking feedback on Bitcoin’s design from the cypherpunk community before its launch.
- The emails show Nakamoto describing key aspects of Bitcoin to Back, including its proof-of-work system for generating coins and achieving consensus.
- While not revealing Nakamoto’s identity, the emails provide valuable insight into Bitcoin’s origins and its founder’s early communications with other cypherpunks.
In 2008, an unknown figure operating under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto published a white paper introducing Bitcoin, a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Nakamoto’s true identity remains one of the great mysteries of the crypto world. However, new evidence has come to light that may provide clues about the enigmatic inventor of Bitcoin.
Early Email Exchanges with Adam Back
In recent court proceedings, emails from 2008-2009 between Nakamoto and Adam Back, an early cypherpunk, were revealed. The emails show Nakamoto contacting Back months before Bitcoin’s launch to get feedback on an early draft of the whitepaper. Nakamoto also asks Back about previous digital cash protocols like Wei Dai’s B-Money and Back’s own Hashcash. This suggests Nakamoto was doing research by engaging with others in the cypherpunk community.
The Bitcoin Whitepaper and Software Launch
In January 2009, Nakamoto thanked Back for his suggestions and revealed that the open-source Bitcoin software had officially launched. The email outlined some key aspects of Bitcoin, including its proof-of-work system for generating new coins and achieving consensus.
The Significance of the Emails
While the emails don’t conclusively identify Nakamoto, they provide a fascinating, first-hand glimpse into Bitcoin’s origins. As one of the few known direct communications from Satoshi Nakamoto, they reveal he was in dialogue with early cypherpunks while developing Bitcoin’s pioneering design. The search for Satoshi continues, but these emails shed new light on Bitcoin’s mystery founder.
