The upcoming release of an HBO documentary centered on the long-speculated identity of Bitcoin’s (BTC) creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, has ignited a frenzy in the cryptocurrency space, particularly with creating new memecoins. According to a Bloomberg report, these tokens are being launched to capitalize on the renewed interest in Nakamoto’s true identity.
Are Memecoins Back In The Spotlight?
Among the discussed names is Len Sassaman, a cryptographer who died in 2011. According to the report, many believe he could be revealed as Nakamoto’s true identity in the upcoming documentary Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery, which is expected to be released this week.
Current data from the blockchain-based betting platform Polymarket indicates that Sassaman is the leading candidate; however, the implied probability of his being Nakamoto has recently fallen to 21%, down from a peak of 68% on October 3.
Memecoins have experienced a notable surge in popularity and newly created tokens over the past year, dubbed the “memecoin mania,” as investors flock to make quick gains versus established cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Over the past year, the growth of these tokens has been significant, particularly as blockchains such as Solana (SOL) have made them easier and cheaper to create and trade. Commenting on the phenomenon, Ben Yorke, Vice President of Ecosystem at crypto exchange WOO X, said:
Memecoins are acting like decentralized prediction markets, with many variations of a single theme popping up around emerging topics.
However, Yorke cautioned that this environment creates a “negative-sum” situation where insiders and influencers profit while everyday investors struggle to discern genuine trends and tokens.
Bitcoin Mystery Deepens
Adding to the intrigue, Meredith Patterson, Sassaman’s widow, has previously denied claims that her late husband was the creator of Bitcoin. Nevertheless, the interest in Sassaman has led Patterson to engage with the memecoin trend. On October 5, Patterson shared on social media platform X that she received memecoins honoring her cat, stating:
Right, so, me not knowing really anything about the world of memecoins, I apparently sent a few DMers a Coinbase address. But if people are insisting on sending me memecoins about my cat, I’m not gonna say no.
Over the years, there have been numerous attempts to uncover Nakamoto’s identity, including a controversial article in Newsweek that incorrectly identified Dorian Nakamoto, a Japanese-American engineer, as the creator. Dorian has consistently denied any affiliation with Bitcoin.
It remains to be seen what further information the forthcoming documentary will reveal in this regard, which could lead to the revelation of the true identity behind Satoshi Nakamoto later this week after years of speculation.
At the time of writing, the largest cryptocurrency on the market has managed to reclaim the $63,740 level after briefly dipping below the $60,000 mark at the end of last week.
Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com