The mystery surrounding Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin, has taken an interesting turn. A new on-chain analysis has uncovered 24 Bitcoin transactions from wallets believed to be linked to Satoshi, revealing that some of these funds were sent to Cavirtex, a Canadian crypto exchange.
This discovery could be the first recorded on-chain transaction between a Satoshi-linked wallet and a centralized exchange (CEX), providing a potential lead in uncovering Bitcoin’s origins.
One of the key addresses involved in these transactions is 1PYYj, which appears to have received Bitcoin multiple times from these early wallets. What makes this even more significant is that 1PYYj is linked to 12ib, one of the largest Bitcoin-holding addresses in existence today, containing around $3 billion worth of BTC. This suggests that 1PYYj may have belonged to Satoshi or an early Bitcoin contributor who played a major role in the network’s development.
Could This Be the Missing Link to Satoshi Nakamoto’s Identity?
An even bigger revelation is that Cavirtex, which was purchased by Kraken in 2016, might have retained KYC data on users who transacted through it. If records from that time still exist, Kraken’s CEO Jesse Powell (@jespow) could theoretically have access to information that might reveal Satoshi’s identity. However, it is unclear whether any such data was preserved or if the exchange had enforced identity verification during those early years.
Adding to the intrigue, these Satoshi-linked wallets also sent 200 BTC to a Bitcoin faucet, a system that once allowed users to receive 5 BTC for free just by solving a CAPTCHA. This was a common method to distribute Bitcoin in its early days when it had little to no market value.
Interestingly, another 500 $BTC transaction to 1PYYj in 2010 raises speculation that it was a payment to another person or entity. If true, this would be a rare documented case of a Satoshi-linked transaction that could provide more insights into how Bitcoin was distributed in its early days.
What Does This Mean for the Search for Satoshi?
This new evidence challenges previous theories about Satoshi’s identity, particularly weakening the claim that cryptographer Len Sassaman was behind Bitcoin. It also raises new questions about whether more historical transaction records could help finally uncover Bitcoin’s elusive creator. While the chances of finding conclusive proof remain slim, this discovery brings fresh hope in solving one of the biggest financial mysteries of all time.