Bitcoin Creator's Wealth Surges, Overtakes Bill Gates

Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto's wealth has surged, potentially surpassing that of Bill Gates, according to recent onchain research. Conor Grogan, director at Coinbase, estimates that Nakamoto's holdings could exceed 1.096 million Bitcoin (BTC), worth over $108 billion. This valuation makes Nakamoto the world's 16th richest person, overtaking Gates.

New research from Akrham Intelligence identified additional addresses potentially belonging to Nakamoto. Grogan noted that these findings suggest Nakamoto's wealth is greater than previously thought. He stated, "In total, this research points to Satoshi owning 1.096M BTC, $108B worth, making them wealthier on paper than Bill Gates."

Centralized exchange (CEX) Kraken may possess data related to Nakamoto's identity. Nakamoto's last known transactions with a CEX occurred through Cavirtex, a Canada-based exchange acquired by Kraken in 2016. Grogan noted, "CaVirtEx was purchased by Kraken in 2016. As such, there is a chance that @jespow has information on the true identity behind Satoshi if they maintained any KYC information on this wallet."

However, at the time, Know Your Customer (KYC) verification was not widely enforced in the cryptocurrency industry. Kraken was among the first documented exchanges to implement KYC verification as early as 2014, but requirements for all users were only implemented in 2017 and 2018. Kraken acquired Cavirtex in January 2016, but there are no documents suggesting that the exchange had KYC requirements for users.

Grogan advised Kraken to delete any existing data on Nakamoto, should it exist. He stated, "My advice to him would be to delete the data."

The revelation regarding Satoshi Nakamoto's extensive Bitcoin holdings presents a curious intersection of wealth, anonymity, and technological scrutiny in cryptocurrency. As discussions around Nakamoto's identity continue to evolve, it remains imperative for industry participants to approach these topics with a commitment to transparency and factual integrity. Future investigations may one day uncover the true identity of the man or woman behind Bitcoin, significantly shaping the narrative of digital currencies.