Bitcoin's Creator Nakamoto Turns 50 Amidst US Policy Shift
1min read Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, celebrated their 50th birthday on April 5, 2025, amidst a year marked by increasing institutional and geopolitical adoption of the world’s first cryptocurrency. The identity of Nakamoto remains one of the most significant mysteries in the crypto world, with various speculations ranging from cryptographers like Adam Back and Nick Szabo to broader theories involving government intelligence agencies.
Nakamoto’s anonymity has been crucial in maintaining the decentralized nature of the Bitcoin network, which operates without a central authority or leadership. According to archived data from his P2P Foundation profile, Nakamoto claimed to be a 37-year-old man living in Japan, with his birthdate listed as April 5, 1975. This information suggests that Nakamoto turned 50 this year.
The Bitcoin wallet associated with Nakamoto, which holds over 1 million BTC, has remained dormant for more than 16 years. Despite Bitcoin’s value rising from $0 to an all-time high above $109,000 in January, the wallet has not shown any activity. This inactivity has contributed to the preservation of Bitcoin’s decentralized ethos, a principle that continues to define the cryptocurrency.
Nakamoto’s 50th birthday comes nearly a month after the US President signed an executive order creating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a Digital Asset Stockpile. This move marks the first major step toward integrating Bitcoin into the US financial system, signaling a significant shift in the cryptocurrency’s status and acceptance.
Anndy Lian, an author and intergovernmental blockchain expert, commented on Nakamoto’s legacy, stating that at 50, Nakamoto’s legacy is no longer just code; it’s a cornerstone of economic sovereignty. Bitcoin’s reserve status signals trust in its scarcity and resilience, Lian noted. The timing of Nakamoto’s 50th birthday, coinciding with Bitcoin’s journey from a white paper to a trillion-dollar asset, is seen as symbolic. Nakamoto’s vision of trustless, peer-to-peer money has outgrown its cypherpunk roots, entering the halls of power.
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However, lingering questions about Nakamoto remain unanswered, including whether they still hold the keys to their wallet, which is now a fortune tied to US policy. In February, Arkham Intelligence published findings attributing 1.096 million BTC to Nakamoto, then valued at more than $108 billion. If accurate, this would make Nakamoto the world’s 16th richest person, surpassing microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on the global wealth rankings.
Despite the growing interest in Nakamoto’s identity and holdings, his early decision to remain anonymous and inactive has helped preserve Bitcoin’s decentralized ethos. This principle continues to define the cryptocurrency to this day, ensuring that Bitcoin remains a trustless, peer-to-peer system without a central authority.
