What was it like working with the genius behind bitcoin?

In this video, Core Bitcoin Developer Jeff Garzik shares his reflections on early interactions with Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, focusing on how Satoshi managed to maintain complete anonymity. According to Jeff, Satoshi was always willing to explain details about Bitcoin, remaining patient and welcoming to newcomers. However, Satoshi was extremely careful never to reveal anything personal.

Conversations were solely focused on Bitcoin, with no mention of his daily life, background, or even his mood. Jeff describes Satoshi’s ability to protect his identity as nearly perfect, especially when he vanished from the scene in 2011, leaving no data trail. He notes that many have tried to analyze Satoshi’s language patterns, posting habits, and spelling differences to unmask him, but nothing concrete has emerged. Jeff compares Satoshi to an avatar or screen name, noting that in the open-source community, personal identity doesn’t matter—it’s all about the ideas.

This purity of interaction allowed Satoshi to keep the focus on Bitcoin, creating a mysterious, yet highly effective presence in the development of the project.

About the Series

Satoshi Stories is a fascinating deep dive into the history of Bitcoin told by Bitcoin Core Developer Jeff Garzik. Jeff was there at the beginning of Bitcoin’s rise and eventual domination of the cryptocurrency world and his experience working with Satoshi in those early years offers important and fascinating insights into the technology.