Newsweek’s ‘Face Behind Bitcoin’ Issues Statement Strongly Denying Story

Dorian S. Nakamoto is shown during an interview with the Associated Press Thursday March 6, 2014 in Los Angeles. Nakamoto, the man that Newsweek claims is the founder of Bitcoin denies he had anything to do with it a... Dorian S. Nakamoto is shown during an interview with the Associated Press Thursday March 6, 2014 in Los Angeles. Nakamoto, the man that Newsweek claims is the founder of Bitcoin denies he had anything to do with it and says he had never even heard of the digital currency until his son told him he had been contacted by a reporter three weeks ago. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) MORE LESS
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The California man identified by Newsweek as a creator of Bitcoin issued a statement Monday “unconditionally” denying the magazine’s report.

“I am writing this statement to clear my name,” Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto wrote in a statement released by his attorney. “I did not create, invent or otherwise work on Bitcoin. I unconditionally deny the Newsweek report.”

Earlier this year, Newsweek’s Leah McGrath Goodman tracked down Nakamoto in Temple City, Calif., and in her article wrote that he had “tacitly” acknowledged his role in the creation of the crypto-currency when they spoke briefly outside his home. It was a big scoop — the identity of the creator of Bitcoin had been a mystery for years — and journalists subsequently descended on Nakamoto, looking for more. Things started getting weird. Nakamoto gave an interview to the Associated Press, where he denied creating Bitcoin. Newsweek stood by its story. Now, Nakamoto has lawyered up.

In his statement Monday, which he said would be his “last public statement on this matter,” Nakamoto reiterated what he told the Associated Press earlier this month: that he had never heard the term “bitcoin” until mid-February, when his son called him telling him he had been contacted by Goodman. Nakamoto also offered more information about his professional background, and said that the Newsweek article had “harmed” his employment prospects.

“My background is in engineering,” Nakamoto wrote. “I also have the ability to program. My most recent job was as an electrical engineer troubleshooting air traffic control equipment for the FAA. I have no knowledge of nor have I ever worked on cryptography, peer to peer systems, or alternative currencies. … I have not been able to find steady work as an engineer or programmer for ten years. I have worked as a laborer, polltaker, and substitute teacher. I discontinued my internet service in 2013 due to severe financial distress. I am trying to recover from prostate surgery in October 2012 and a stroke I suffered in October of 2013. My prospects for gainful employment has been harmed because of Newsweek’s article.”

Nakamoto ended by saying that Newsweek’s “false report” had caused his family “confusion and stress.” He asked that “you now respect our privacy.”

Read the full statement:

Dorian S. Nakamoto Statement

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