A new documentary digs into Bitcoin’s origins, reframing the search for Satoshi Nakamoto as both a technical investigation and a deeply human story.
Apr 21, 2026, 9:54 p.m.
The big picture: The film Finding Satoshi aims to solve what its creators call one of the biggest financial mysteries ever.
- Director Tucker Tooley said the project blends investigative reporting with storytelling about “a human being” behind Bitcoin.
- The team deliberately avoided conspiracy tropes, instead focusing on Satoshi’s motivations, struggles, and context.
- The mystery itself, why someone created Bitcoin and vanished, drives the narrative.
How they investigated: The team shifted tactics after early resistance from crypto insiders.
- Investigative journalist Bill Cohan said major crypto figures often dismissed the question as irrelevant or a “waste of time.”
- That resistance pushed the team to bring in private investigator Tyler Maroney and dig deeper.
- They narrowed suspects to a small group of cryptographers with specific technical skills and early involvement in Bitcoin’s origins.
Behind the scenes: The reporting relied on years of relationship-building and technical analysis.
- Maroney said the team focused on cryptographers, mathematicians, and early “cypherpunks,” not investors or executives.
- Sources included pioneers like Whitfield Diffie, who helped invent public-key cryptography and industry veterans such as Joseph Lubin and Katie Haun.
Why it matters: The film reframes Bitcoin’s origin story and challenges how people think about it today.
- Maroney said Bitcoin began as a privacy tool, not a store of wealth, rooted in fears of “surveillance capitalism.”
- The creators argue understanding that context is key to understanding Bitcoin’s purpose.
- The mystery also raises stakes: Satoshi is believed to hold about 1.1 million Bitcoin that have never moved.
What’s driving the mystery: Not everyone wants the answer.
- Cohan said some major investors may prefer the myth to remain intact, fearing reputational risk if Satoshi were controversial.
- Others argue it simply doesn’t matter, comparing it to not knowing who invented the internet.
- The filmmakers reject that view, saying the identity and intent behind Bitcoin are central to its story.
What comes next: The film promises a definitive conclusion and a broader takeaway.
- The team says it reached a clear answer, though they won’t reveal it outside the documentary.
- They emphasize the journey: understanding the people and ideas that led to Bitcoin’s creation.
- Tooley said the goal is to make a complex, technical subject accessible and entertaining for a broad audience.
- The documentary comes out April 22, 2026 at findingsatoshi.com
AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk’s full AI Policy.
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