Documentary claims to identify Bitcoin creator after four-year investigation

A documentary released on 22 April 2026 says it has identified the creator of Bitcoin, known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, following a four-year investigation combining forensic analysis, interviews and historical research.

Finding Satoshi, directed by Matthew Miele and Tucker Tooley, follows an inquiry led by journalist William D. Cohan and private investigator Tyler Maroney. The film presents what its makers describe as the conclusion of their search for Nakamoto's identity, says the European Business Review.

The investigation drew on forensic analysis and original reporting, and incorporated what the filmmakers say is previously unseen evidence. The team also conducted on-record interviews with more than 20 individuals, including Gary Gensler, Joseph Lubin, Fred Ehrsam and Gillian Tett.

According to the filmmakers, the inquiry initially reached a conclusion after two years, but continued for an additional two years to verify the findings before publication.

The documentary traces Bitcoin's origins to the cypherpunk movement and earlier developments in digital privacy and cryptography, presenting the cryptocurrency's decentralised structure as a deliberate philosophical design embedded in its code.

In a departure from conventional distribution models, the film was released directly to the public through its own website rather than via studios or streaming platforms, a decision the producers said was intended to avoid intermediaries.

Brian Armstrong, who is a partner in the production, said he believed the investigators had reached the "right answer" regarding Nakamoto's identity, describing the film as a thoughtful treatment of the subject.

The documentary does not publicly detail all of the evidence underpinning its conclusion, and the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto has remained one of the most debated questions in the cryptocurrency industry since Bitcoin's creation in 2008.