American computer scientist Nick Szabo has become the frontrunner on Polymarket to be identified as Bitcoin’s mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, in HBO’s upcoming documentary Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery.
Bettors on Polymarket, a decentralized prediction platform, have given Szabo 27.9% odds of being named the creator of Bitcoin, overtaking cryptographer Len Sassaman, who now stands at 14%. Blockstream CEO Adam Back follows with just 4.3%.
Nick Szabo Overtakes Len Sassaman
Sassaman initially led the betting with 68% odds when the market started on October 4. But after Cullen Hoback, the documentary’s producer, revealed to CNN on October 7 that he had spoken with the person he believes to be Nakamoto, his chances of winning diminished.
It appeared that Sassaman, who passed away in 2011, was no longer a factor in this discovery. Hoback stated that the person’s response was “more telling than even the evidence itself” and that the public must be aware of Nakamoto’s identity, particularly if they are still connected to Bitcoin.
Sassaman’s widow, Meredith Patterson, further threw doubt on Sassaman being the focus of the show when she revealed to DL News on October 8 that HBO did not approach her for the documentary.
Elon Musk Hinted at Szabo Before
Interestingly, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has previously hinted that Szabo could be Satoshi, stating that Szabo was “more responsible” for Bitcoin’s creation than anyone else. Szabo’s involvement in developing Bit Gold, a precursor to Bitcoin, has long fueled speculation about his connection to Nakamoto.
The documentary, set to air Tuesday, has become a major talking point as it promises to unravel “the internet’s biggest mystery.” The true identity of Nakamoto has been a closely guarded secret for years, with the Bitcoin creator reportedly holding around 1.1 million Bitcoins.
According to the on-chain analytics platform Arkham Intelligence, this makes Nakamoto one of the wealthiest people in the world. Whether the documentary will definitively solve the mystery or simply add more intrigue remains to be seen.