AP: Newsweek subject Satoshi Nakamoto is not Bitcoin's creator

The cover of this week’s edition of Newsweek reported to have located mysterious Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto. Far from hiding, the 64-year-old Nakamoto, who goes by the name Dorian S. Nakamoto, was living with his elderly mother in Temple City, California. The story, while built from circumstantial evidence, made a compelling case that this was the Satoshi Nakamoto. A particularly telling moment came when the man reporter Leah McGrath Goodman claimed was the father of cryptocurrency said:

“I am no longer involved in that and I cannot discuss it. It’s been turned over to other people. They are in charge of it now. I no longer have any connection.”

But according to an Associated Press story published yesterday, Newsweek found the wrong man. Nakamoto claims he was simply misquoted.

Nakamoto said he is a native of Beppu, Japan who came to the U.S. when he was 10. He speaks both English and Japanese, but his English isn’t flawless. Asked if he said the quote, Nakamoto responded, “no.”

“I’m saying I’m no longer in engineering. That’s it,” he said of the exchange. “And even if I was, when we get hired, you have to sign this document, contract saying you will not reveal anything we divulge during and after employment. So that’s what I implied.”

“It sounded like I was involved before with Bitcoin and looked like I’m not involved now. That’s not what I meant. I want to clarify that,” he said.

In an exclusive two-hour interview with The Associated Press

, 64, said he had never heard of Bitcoin until his son told him he had been contacted by a reporter three weeks ago. … Reached at his home in Temple City, Calif., Nakamoto acknowledged that many of the details in Newsweek‘s report are correct, including that he once worked for a defense contractor. But he strongly disputes the magazine’s assertion that he is “the face behind Bitcoin.”

For her part, Goodman isn’t buying the denial. She responded to the AP story by saying:

“I stand completely by my exchange with Mr. Nakamoto. There was no confusion whatsoever about the context of our conversation — and his acknowledgment of his involvement in Bitcoin.”

Here’s a video of Dorian Nakamoto talking with AP reporters.

While it’s certainly possible that Newseek‘s Nakamoto is actually the man behind Bitcoin and actively misleading the press, many people in the Bitcoin community are not convinced. Dorian Satoshi’s denial is once again fueling rumors that Bitcoin’s Satoshi Nakamoto may not actually be a real person, but rather a pen name for a person or persons behind the creation of the virtual currency. More details as the situation develops.