A crypto attorney believes the U.S. government has the answer to one of technology’s greatest mysteries: the identity of Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
On Monday, James Murphy filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, alleging the agency knows who Nakamoto is.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Murphy, who dubs himself the “MetaLawMan,” explained the rationale behind the lawsuit.
“My FOIA lawsuit seeks documents concerning claims made by a high-ranking Special Agent of DHS that DHS had found and interviewed Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto,” Murphy wrote.
Established in July 1966, the Freedom of Information Act allows the public to access federal government agency records. The aim of FOIA is to promote transparency and accountability.
Over the years, suspected candidates have included Hal Finney, Gavin Andresen, Nick Szabo, Adam Back, Len Sassaman, Craig Wright, Dorian Nakamoto, Elon Musk, and, more recently, Peter Todd. All have either denied being Nakamoto or had their claims disputed.
The lawsuit alleged that a federal agent, named in the filing as Special Agent Rana Saoud, asserted at the 2019 Offshore Alert Conference on Financial Intelligence and Investigations alleging DHS interviewed Nakamoto in California.
“We got pushback from headquarters, but we figured: ‘If the agent wants to talk to him and we’ve got the money, why not send him? Let’s see how this works,” Saoud allegedly said. “The agents flew to California and realized he wasn’t alone—there were three other people. They sat down, talked with them, and learned how it all works and why they created it.”
“If the interview really happened as the DHS Agent claimed, there should be documentation of the substance of that meeting,” Murphy said.
Murphy’s lawsuit said the meeting records could prove crucial, with policymakers actively exploring investing in Bitcoin.
In his FOIA request, Murphy asked DHS to release records, including a transcript of remarks made by Saoud at a 2019 conference and any documentation—such as transcripts, recordings, notes, or correspondence—related to interviews with individuals believed to be, or claiming to be, Satoshi Nakamoto.
The FOIA lawsuit adds a new layer to the ongoing mystery surrounding Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity, which has fueled speculation and legal battles for years.
In 2024, a U.K. court found Craig Wright not to be Nakamoto after a years-long legal battle with the Crypto Open Patent Alliance. Wright first claimed to be Nakamoto in December 2015.
Murphy hasn’t ruled out anyone and is determined to get answers.
“It is entirely possible that the DHS Agent was mistaken and DHS did not interview the real Satoshi,” Murphy wrote. “If DHS resists disclosure, I will pursue the case to conclusion to solve this mystery.”
Edited by James Rubin
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