But whether you're a crypto buff or don't know your blockchain from your NFTs, have you ever wondered where it all began?
Channel 4’s new documentary Seeking Satoshi dives headfirst into this enigma, and it’s a wild ride. The doc follows journalist Gabriel Gatehouse, a notorious war reporter and conspiracy investigator as he tries to uncover the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin. It’s got more twists and turns than a Reddit thread on the moon landing, with intrigue, surprises, and a whole lot of ‘wait, what?’ moments.
But what actually is Bitcoin? The so-called ‘freedom money’ is essentially like digital cash that exists entirely online, free from the control of banks or governments. It’s controlled by a decentralised network of computers and all these transactions are recorded on a blockchain - basically a giant online receipt that everyone can see.
And, who is Satoshi Nakamoto? Well, that's the multi-billion-dollar question. Over the years, many people have been accused of being the elusive creator, including a guy literally named Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto (no joke). But that theory, along with many others, has been debunked.
Seeking Satoshi throws even more names into the mix including well-known hackers and cryptographers who were early pioneers in cryptography and digital currency. If you’re already into crypto, you may have heard some of the names – Hal Finney, Adam Back, Wei Dai. It even casts doubt on whether Satoshi is just one man, or a collective of these tech bros.
This documentary isn't just about who Satoshi is, though. It's also about why Bitcoin was created in the first place. It even suggests crypto could be as big as the invention of the printing press, highlighting Bitcoin’s potential to disrupt the world as we know it.
As Gabriel travels to crypto conferences and even a ‘libertarian’ community for those who want to live outside the confines of modern democracy, he meets people who seem to know quite a bit more about Satoshi than they're letting on. Could this be a case of tech bros protecting their own?
Ultimately, Seeking Satoshi delves into the heart of Bitcoin’s ethos: freedom. Because it’s decentralised, governments can’t control it. So, for many, Bitcoin has become about taking back control.
Don’t want to feel lost in the group chat? This doc is a must watch. Seeking Satoshi is streaming now on Channel 4, ready to binge.
Thomas Thorn