KEY POINTS

  • Bitcoin was introduced in October 2008
  • It was introduced by Satoshi Nakamoto who later disappeared online in 2011
  • Bitcoin was trading up 1.66% at $21,710.92

Crypto Twitter has reacted to a claim by a Homeland Security agent that the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous Bitcoin creator, is known to the U.S government.

The identity of Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of the world's first cryptocurrency and the most prominent crypto asset by market capitalization, has remained a mystery for years. However, it appears that it is no longer the case, according to Twitter handle CoinHub.

The account claimed that Nakamoto was not a single person but a group of four. At a conference attended by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a supposed Homeland Security agent dropped the bomb about the BTC creator's real identity.

A bitcoin representation is seen in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin in Paris, France, June 23, 2017.
A bitcoin representation is seen in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin in Paris, France, June 23, 2017. Reuters / BENOIT TESSIER

The Twitter account further said this is already known to the U.S. government. "A Homeland Security agent, at a conference attended by the SEC, said the US government knows who "Satoshi Nakamoto" is and that it is a group of 4 people," the tweet read.

Crypto Twitter immediately reacted to the tweet. A Twitter user who goes by the name lovealicewalton sounded alarmed and mentioned the U.S. government taking control of Bitcoin.

"The whole crypto community members are proud of the decentralization for the anonymity of Satoshi. It is widely known that he has the most bitcoins in the world. All of a sudden, the US government claims to know who Satoshi is, which indicates the US is taking control of #BTC," the tweet said.

Some Twitter users directly shared their guesses on the identity of Nakamoto. Twitter user CyberIDNFT said the four people are "Craig Steven Wright, David Kleiman, Hal Finney and David Rees." Meanwhile, Twitter user Clonestwo suggested that "the leader is a woman," while another user mentioned they are "Samsung, Toshiba, Nakamichi and Motorola."

Nakamoto unveiled the first cryptocurrency with details explained in the white paper in October 2008. The creator combined technology and existing processes to combat issues surrounding Bitcoin, including double spending crypto without the need to depend on a third party.

Nakamoto disappeared online in 2011. As of 2:03 a.m. ET on Monday, Bitcoin was trading up 1.66% at $21,710.92 with a 24-hour volume of $27,100,487,653 based on the latest data from CoinMarketCap.