Was Satoshi Nakamoto really the inventor of Bitcoin?

The conventional wisdom is that Bitcoin was invented by a mysterious Japanese genius named Satoshi Nakamoto, although a credible physical presence has never been demonstrated, creating one of those industry mysteries and associated rumour and myth.

Two respected techie publications – Gismodo and Wired – this week suggested that the man behind the Nakamoto alias is actually a 44-year-old Australian academic named Craig Wright…and in some cleverly worded responses to their enquiries before going silent Wright does not actually admit to being responsible, but has implied that they may be on the right track.

Both publications have published documentary, personal anecdotal, tax, blog, social media and email evidence covering the last few years and suggesting that Wright is the man responsible for bringing Bitcoin to the world.

The exposes also suggest that Wright is the ultimate beneficiary of the valuable Tulip Trust, an untouched and reportedly 1.1 million Bitcoin hoard believed to be the largest in existence and which pays out in 2020.

The revelations are interesting but remain inconclusive, ensuring that the Nakamoto legend will probably be around for the foreseeable future in the absence of more substantiated and credible evidence.

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE:

The Guardian newspaper in Australia has published an exclusive report claiming that Australian federal police raided Wright’s home and office Wednesday, possibly motived by the earlier exposes and speculation that he was the Bitcoin founder.

“More than 10 police personnel arrived at the house in the Sydney suburb of Gordon at about 1.30pm,” the Guardian reports. “Two police staff wearing white gloves could be seen from the street searching the cupboards and surfaces of the garage. At least three more were seen from the front door.”

However, the Australian Federal police said in a statement that the raids were not related to the bitcoin claims.

“The AFP can confirm it has conducted search warrants to assist the Australian Taxation Office at a residence in Gordon and a business premises in Ryde, Sydney,” the statement declared. “This matter is unrelated to recent media reporting regarding the digital currency bitcoin.”

Neighbours indicated that Wright was not in residence and had not been for some weeks, and that he had given notice of intention to vacate the rented house in the first week of December 2015 in order to move to London, England. Wright subsequently extended the lease by an extra week, taking it to the first week of January 2016.

A spokeswoman for the Australian Tax Office was unable to confirm whether the meetings with the ATO and Wright had taken place due to “obligations around confidentiality under the law”.

Bitcoin was trading at around $416 when we went to press Wednesday morning.