Speculation runs rife, and hundreds of people have been claimed to be Satoshi. In the face of debates that still circulate on Nakamoto's identity, the much-needed reminder is that the essence of Bitcoin is not vested in any one person. It is the freedom and self-sovereignty it offers to the people of every nationality in this world that matters.
Satoshi Nakamoto published the Bitcoin white paper in 2008 and then released the first Bitcoin software in 2009. Since the release, Nakamoto had been ensuring he was anonymous, using a pseudonym to maintain this. Of course, it is not an afterthought but a deep realization of what freedom entails: safety, security, and privacy. He kept anonymity so that Bitcoin would not be anchored to one person's thoughts or influence.
I've moved on to other things. It's in good hands with Gavin and everyone.
This anonymity is not a bug, but rather a feature. In designing Bitcoin, Satoshi gave it a trustless environment wherein users are free from the dependence on any one person or authority. In effect, it is the collective consensus of the users that validates and secures network. It is by creating such distance that Satoshi made sure this system would be resilient against personal biases, manipulations, and influences.
But if Bitcoin were to be pegged with Satoshi's identity, then it would undermine its principles by default. The value of Bitcoin is not rooted in who created it but rather in its network. And this huge network of developers, node runners, and users around the world is continuously patching and securing it. It is this cumulative effort that returns Bitcoin's viability and not the influence of any individual.
Here's a list of some persons who claimed or are believed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonym used by the creator of Bitcoin:
1. Craig Wright
2. Hal Finney
3. Nick Szabo
4. Wei Dai
5. Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto
6. James A. Donald
7. Vili Lehdonvirta
8. Adam Back
9. David Chaum
10. Ross Ulbricht
11. Len Sassaman
12. Philippe Dybowski
13. Julius Baer
14. Sergio Lerner
15. Timothy C. May
16. Gavin Andresen
17. Greg Maxwell
18. Evan Duffield
19. Martti Malmi
20. Peter Todd
21. Dan Kaminsky
22. Peter Todd
Argument on who Satoshi Nakamoto is, has led many to claim their identity, but the only person who can actually prove his identity is Satoshi himself. Satoshi, however has kept the revolution noble and allowed it to work for itself. This decision has drawn the line between Bitcoin and its creator that Bitcoin is not its creators' product but a revolutionary tool, a means to freedom.
Conclusion
Who is Satoshi Nakamoto, is beside the point. What's important is the freedom and sovereignty that Bitcoin gives. Satoshi's decision to keep himself anonymous reinforces the decentralized nature of the revolution and helps it operate independently.
It Doesn't Matter Who Satoshi Nakamoto Is: It's The Freedom, Bitcoin Gives That Matters.
The Anonymity of Satoshi Nakamoto
The Only True Proof