Plot twist! Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto denies founding Bitcoin

In one of the stranger LA car chases, reporters follow and live tweet attempts to talk to alleged Bitcoin creator

Published March 6, 2014 11:50PM (EST)

                  (<a href='http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-215950p1.html'>ppart</a> via <a href='http://www.shutterstock.com/'>Shutterstock</a>/Salon)
(ppart via Shutterstock/Salon)

According to Business Insider, alleged Bitcoin founder Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto is denying any involvement with Bitcoin. A story published earlier today by Newsweek claims the 64-year-old Temple City, California resident created the virtual currency. The reporter, Leah McGrath Goodman, spoke to family and a chief scientist at Bitcoin. Goodman told Business Insider, "I don't have any doubt in my mind," that he is the secretive founder.

Despite denying his involvement, Nakamoto was met with a swarm of press outside of his home. According to tweets from the scene, Nakamoto chose a reporter from AP at random the two of them drove off in a Prius to get sushi. When followed to lunch, the AP reporter took Nakamoto to AP headquarters, with a gaggle of reporters in tow.

Car chases are not an uncommon occurrence in Los Angeles, however not many of them are after a supposed computer engineer worth millions of untouched Bitcoins. The reporters were not the only ones to take to Twitter; there is already a parody account for Nakamoto. A Storify of two Los Angeles Times reporters' experience of #bitcoinchase is below, where Andrea Chang quotes Nakamoto saying, "No no no I was never involved."


By Sarah Gray

Sarah Gray is an assistant editor at Salon, focusing on innovation. Follow @sarahhhgray or email sgray@salon.com.

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