In just a few hours, we might finally find out who Satoshi Nakamoto really is—the mysterious creator of Bitcoin (BTC).

As we get closer to this big reveal, speculation is running wild. Some people think it could be the NSA. Others point to individuals like Nick Szabo and Adam Back.

The crypto community is buzzing with debates about Satoshi’s identity. This discussion has heated up ahead of an upcoming HBO documentary that promises to present its candidate. There are two main theories: either Satoshi is one person or part of a larger group. The principle of Occam’s Razor suggests the simplest explanation is best, which leans toward a single inventor. However, some argue that creating Bitcoin could be more complicated.

Nick Szabo is a strong contender for Satoshi’s identity. He’s a computer scientist and cryptographer. A respected source, 10X Research, points to him as the likely creator of Bitcoin. They highlight his early work on decentralized currencies and cryptographic techniques.

“The most likely inventor of Bitcoin appears to be Nick Szabo,” the research states. “He developed the phrase and concept of smart contracts in the ’90s and designed a mechanism in 1998 for a decentralized currency called Bit Gold.”

Szabo is known for his visionary ideas. He created a decentralized currency mechanism called Bit Gold, using his concepts along with Glenn M. Lilly’s hashing algorithms. In the early 2000s, he even worked with the NSA, laying the groundwork for what would become Bitcoin.

His background has sparked more debate about his possible connection to Satoshi. Szabo worked on digital cash projects and wrote insightful blog posts about the core principles of currency and trust. Interestingly, he adjusted the dates of his writings to match key moments in Bitcoin’s development timeline.

These elements add an intriguing layer to the mystery surrounding the identity of Bitcoin's creator.

On the other hand, Adam Back, another potential candidate, has distanced himself from these speculations. When a user on X (formerly Twitter) asked him to clarify why he isn’t Satoshi, Back was clear.

“In 2013, I went on Bitcoin-wizards IRC and asked lots of questions to catch up with Bitcoin details,” Back explained. “Here are logs of that IRC channel, so developers who were in the channel are confident it’s not me.”

Len Sassaman, once a favorite candidate according to Polymarket bettors, has also been ruled out. His odds dropped after his widow, Meredith L. Patterson, denied the speculation.

“Meredith L. Patterson denied the speculation that Len Sassaman was Satoshi Nakamoto in an interview. HBO never contacted her when making the documentary,” reported WuBlockchain.

As the speculation continues, recent Polymarket data shows bettors are increasingly backing Nick Szabo, supported by 10X Research as a leading candidate for Satoshi Nakamoto.

With HBO’s documentary set to potentially reveal Bitcoin’s creator, some, like Adam Back, argue that keeping Satoshi’s identity a secret is beneficial. They believe Bitcoin’s decentralized nature should remain free from government control, which aligns with the cryptocurrency’s core values of freedom and autonomy.

Whether Satoshi’s identity will be revealed or if the mystery will deepen is still up in the air. But this debate highlights the fundamental values that have driven Bitcoin’s success.