Who is Stephen Mollah? The Man Who Claims to Be Real Satoshi Nakamoto

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As a seasoned researcher with over two decades of experience in the tech and finance industry, I have followed the enigmatic journey of Bitcoin from its inception to its current dominance. The mysterious persona of Satoshi Nakamoto has always intrigued me, not only for the groundbreaking technology he introduced but also for the allure of his anonymity.

Bitcoin (BTC) serves as the foundation of the cryptocurrency world, being the initial digital token that was introduced in 2009 by an anonymous figure known as Satoshi Nakamoto. With a staggering market dominance of approximately 60.1%, Bitcoin boasts a massive market capitalization of around $1.3 trillion. This remarkable status is attributed to its enigmatic creator, who has left many questioning his true identity. Intrigue surrounding Bitcoin’s origin has only fueled its popularity. More recently, Stephen Mollah has stepped forward as the latest contender for the title of Satoshi Nakamoto.

For the past sixteen years, there’s been a continuous debate regarding the ownership of this technology, with people eager to uncover the individual responsible for its creation. Particularly intriguing is the identity of Bitcoin’s creator, who currently ranks as the 20th wealthiest person globally. Known by the pseudonym Satoshi, he holds approximately 600,000 to 1.1 million Bitcoins, translating to a staggering fortune given today’s Bitcoin price of $69,500 per coin.

Who is Stephen Mollah? Is He The Real Satoshi Nakamoto?

Just recently, the HBO Documentary claimed that Peter Todd is the real Satoshi Nakamoto. However, it was disappointing for the crypto community, as it lacked many crucial proofs. Regardless, this is not the only case, as before this, Craig Wright got into legal trouble after arguing that he was Satoshi. However, no one was prepared for Stephen Mollah, as he appeared out of nowhere and regarded himself as the Bitcoin creator. 

58-year-old Stephen Mollah, who identifies himself as an entrepreneur and economist of British-Asian descent, has made waves in the crypto world with his assertions. Residing in Pimlico, he claims to own 165,000 Bitcoins kept in Singapore, even going so far as to call himself a Bitcoin creator. Alongside Charles Anderson, a 67-year-old from New Malden, they have been under suspicion for fraudulent activities between November 2022 and October 2023. Their upcoming trial is set for November 3, 2025. Yesterday, however, they held a conference to unveil who they claim is Satoshi Nakamoto.

Mr. Mollah is discussing his past and mentions that he’s a specialist in economic and monetary studies. He attempted to reveal himself as Satoshi Nakamoto back in 2016, but someone intervened. Later, he spoke with BBC reporter @ruskin147 for an interview, however, the story was not published by the media outlet.

— Joe Tidy (@joetidy) October 31, 2024

Via a press release from London Live, Stephen shared details about a significant event, extending invitations to crypto investors, specialists in the field, and media outlets. This event promises a groundbreaking disclosure within the cryptocurrency industry. Furthermore, Mollah’s LinkedIn profile indicates he is an executive director at Coinbase; however, the company has yet to address his assertion that the Bitcoin whitepaper is his work.

The conference happened on October 31, 2024, but was marred by technical problems that led attendees to depart prematurely in dismay. Subsequently, Joe Tidy from BBC News and numerous others labeled him as fraudulent.

What Went Wrong?

Since the announcement of the event, there’s been widespread skepticism about Stephen Mollah’s statements. The high ticket price of $543 for attendance raised eyebrows, but attendees found the quality of the event underwhelming. Both Mollah and Charles Anderson seemed more focused on showcasing their accomplishments rather than addressing the event’s concerns. The initial moments of the event were uncomfortable for many, as Anderson made claims about inventing a car energy recovery technology and being the creator of Britain’s Got Talent television show, which sparked further doubts among the audience.

Mollah too tagged along with Charles and highlighted numerous accomplishments beyond being identified as Satoshi. He boasted that he was actually the inventor of the widely-used AI bot ChatGPT, Eurobond, and even the Twitter logo design. Yet, these feats paled in comparison to his attempt to sway the audience by presenting unverified screenshots, aiming to establish himself as Satoshi Nakamoto.

‘Satoshi’ and his organiser cannot get their laptop working so are doing the event offline for now.

— Joe Tidy (@joetidy) October 31, 2024

Immediately following the unfolding events, individuals started departing after witnessing seemingly unfounded and lacking evidence. I myself queried the self-proclaimed Satoshi, Stephen Mollah, to transfer BTC from the Genesis block to substantiate his claims. In response, he stated, ‘The Bitcoin from the Genesis block cannot be transferred as casually as one might assume,’ and assured that this action would be taken within the next few months. This revelation was disheartening, as many had gathered in anticipation of a resolution, particularly on the anniversary of the Bitcoin whitepaper.

Mr Mollah is showing a series of easy to fake screenshots. I asked if he will move some of the Genesis bitcoins to finally prove he is Satoshi. He said he will in the next few months. I have left the conference.

— Joe Tidy (@joetidy) October 31, 2024

Through this, the businessman has encouraged people to cease their pursuit of Satoshi, as he has publicly disclosed his identity. More crucially, he disclosed that he was compelled to do so because of escalating regulatory concerns and promised to provide further evidence in due course. However, it’s been made clear that Stephen Mollah is not the creator of Bitcoin known as Satoshi Nakamoto. Therefore, the question remains: who will step forward claiming to be Satoshi next?

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2024-11-01 14:36