James A. Murphy has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, seeking to compel the agency to disclose any information regarding the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, amid suggestions that DHS might hold relevant details about the enigmatic figure.
The U.S. DHS is currently facing legal action from attorney James A. Murphy, who aims to reveal the true identity of the individual behind Bitcoin (BTC), known by the alias Satoshi Nakamoto. Licensed to practice law in both New York and Virginia, Murphy frequently shares his legal perspectives with followers on X under the username @MetaLawMan.
This lawsuit, initiated in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, follows Murphy’s unsuccessful attempts to gather information via a Freedom of Information Act request directed at DHS on February 12. Murphy contends that the agency has disregarded his request, breaching its legal obligations to respond appropriately.
An attorney representing Murphy asserted in the filing, “In light of the substantial public and private investments in Bitcoin, it is essential for Mr. Murphy and the public to gain a clearer understanding of what the federal government knows regarding the identities of those responsible for Bitcoin’s creation.”
Murphy is particularly interested in accessing documents pertaining to an interview conducted by DHS Special Agent Rana Saoud in 2019, during which she reportedly indicated knowledge of Nakamoto’s real identity. He claims that Saoud stated four individuals were integral to the creation of Bitcoin, and that she had met with them to discuss its development.
Considering the significant investments recently funneled into Bitcoin exchange-traded funds and the U.S. government’s intentions to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve, Murphy believes that this information is vital. He has called on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, appointed by Donald Trump, to voluntarily reveal Nakamoto’s identity. Should the DHS refuse to cooperate, he has indicated his intention to pursue further legal avenues to seek the truth.
For years, the quest to uncover Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity has captivated many. Numerous candidates have been proposed, including Japanese-American engineer Dorian Nakamoto (due to name similarities and his relevant technical knowledge), cryptographer Hal Finney (noteworthy for being the first recipient of a recorded BTC transaction), Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream (for his early contributions to cryptographic protocols like Hashcash), Wei Dai (who created b-money, a precursor to Bitcoin), and Paul Le Roux (related to the first BTC transaction sent to Hal Finney).
Recently, Canadian software developer and cryptographer Peter Todd was highlighted in the HBO documentary “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery,” which speculated on his potential identity as Satoshi Nakamoto based on his early involvement in Bitcoin discussions and a resemblance to Nakamoto’s writing style. However, Todd has strongly rejected these claims, labeling them as “absurd” and criticizing the documentary for its speculative nature.