Bitcoin News Today: U.S. Attorney Sues DHS Over Satoshi Nakamoto Interview Records

A U.S. attorney has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeking access to records related to a 2019 interview allegedly conducted with an individual who claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court, claims that the DHS has failed to comply with its legal obligations under the FOIA and seeks to compel the agency to release documents, including interview transcripts and correspondence, that could confirm or deny whether it has information about Nakamoto’s identity [1].

The legal action was prompted by a FOIA request submitted by attorney James A. Murphy on February 12, 2025, through the law firm of SCHAERR JAFFE LLP. The request is linked to public interest in Bitcoin, driven by recent developments such as the Trump Administration’s Executive Order creating the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in March 2025, congressional proposals for a U.S. Bitcoin reserve managed by the Treasury, and a growing number of U.S. states considering laws to allow public investment in the cryptocurrency. Additionally, more than 100 billion dollars has been invested in U.S. exchange-traded products that hold only Bitcoin, further underscoring the national interest in the digital asset [2].

The basis for the lawsuit stems from a 2019 presentation by DHS Special Agent Rana Saoud at the OffshoreAlert Conference, in which she revealed that an agent within the DHS had pursued an interview with someone who claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto in California. According to Saoud, the agent faced internal resistance but eventually conducted the interview, during which four individuals were identified as being involved in Bitcoin’s creation [3].

The lawsuit seeks four categories of records: (1) a transcript of Saoud’s 2019 conference remarks, (2) records of any interviews with individuals claiming to be Nakamoto, (3) documentation of interviews with those believed to have created Bitcoin, and (4) all records discussing the identity of Bitcoin’s creator(s) [4]. These records are central to understanding whether the DHS holds undisclosed information about one of the most enigmatic figures in the cryptocurrency world.

The case has drawn attention in the wake of an HBO documentary, Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery, which explored Nakamoto’s identity and included interviews with individuals like Bitcoin developer Peter Todd, who denied any involvement. Despite the documentary’s efforts, the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains unknown [5].

The lawsuit could set a precedent for transparency in government dealings with emerging technologies. If the court rules in favor of the plaintiff, it could result in the release of records that may finally shed light on the identity of Bitcoin’s creator or at least clarify what the DHS knows—or does not know—about one of the most significant technological innovations of the 21st century.

Sources:

[1] Hackernoon, Does the Department of Homeland Security Know Who Satoshi Nakamoto Is? (https://hackernoon.com/does-the-department-of-homeland-security-know-who-satoshi-nakamoto-is)

[2] U.S. Senate Press Release, Lummis Introduces Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Legislation (https://www.lummis.senate.gov/press-releases/lummis-introduces-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-legislation/)

[3] OffshoreAlert YouTube, Regulating Cryptocurrencies & ICOs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAOrjlub4Qc)

[4] CoinDesk, North Carolina Joins Growing Number of States Pursuing Crypto Investments (https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/02/10/north-carolina-joins-growing-number-of-states-pursuing-crypto-investments)

[5] CNBC, ETFs Holding Bitcoin Now Surpass Creator in Holdings (https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/10/etfs-holding-bitcoin-are-now-the-cryptos-largest-holders-surpassing-creator-satoshi-nakamoto.html)