– Over the years, there have been conspiracies about the origins of Bitcoin
– One theory suggests that the creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, is actually the United States National Security Agency (NSA)
– The theory stems from the use of the Secure Hash Algorithm 256 (SHA-256) in Bitcoin’s source code, which was developed by Glenn M. Lilly, a mathematician who worked for the NSA
– The NSA also proposed a Bitcoin-like system in a 1996 paper
– Some believe that the pseudonym “Satoshi Nakamoto” is a reference to the CIA, further fueling the conspiracy
– However, many Bitcoiners dismiss this theory, pointing out that SHA-256 is a widely used algorithm and that there is no evidence of any secret backdoor or crack
– Former NSA cryptanalyst Jeff Man acknowledges that it is “feasible” for the NSA to have created Bitcoin, but he has doubts based on his experience at the agency
– He believes that the NSA would be cautious about breaching its charter and spying on its own citizens
– The idea that Nakamoto must have intelligence training also falls apart when considering that many people remain anonymous online
– It is unlikely that we will ever know for certain whether the NSA was involved in Bitcoin
It’s in the code
– Bitcoin’s security lies in its use of the SHA-256 algorithm, which was designed by Glenn M. Lilly under the direction of the NSA
– The NSA was one of the first to propose a Bitcoin-like system in a 1996 paper on anonymous electronic cash
Satoshi Nakamoto is code for the CIA?
– Some Bitcoiners believe that “Satoshi Nakamoto” is a reference to the CIA, but this theory is disputed
– The name can be interpreted as “central intelligence” in Japanese, but it is also a common name
So, did the NSA create Bitcoin?
– Former NSA cryptanalyst Jeff Man believes it is “feasible” but doubts it based on his experience at the agency
– He notes that the NSA would be cautious about breaching its charter and spying on its own citizens
No, the whole idea is silly
– Many Bitcoiners dismiss the idea that the NSA invented Bitcoin
– SHA-256 is a widely used algorithm, and there is no evidence of any secret backdoor or crack
– The argument that “Satoshi Nakamoto” is a veiled reference to “central intelligence” is not considered compelling
– Bitcoin’s first proof-of-concept software was a clever patchwork of old cryptography algorithms, which is not something an organized intelligence organization would come up with
– The idea that Nakamoto must have intelligence training falls apart when considering the anonymity of many people online
Will we ever find out if the NSA invented Bitcoin?
– It is unlikely that we will ever know for certain whether the NSA was involved in Bitcoin
– The nature of intelligence agencies makes it difficult to obtain a definitive answer
