FBI on Satoshi Files: Can “Neither Confirm Nor Deny” Its Existence

The bureau described the creator of Bitcoin as a “third party individual.”

Key takeaways:

• Crypto’s most mysterious figure has finally been investigated.

• The FBI’s response was vague and enigmatic.

• Investigating journalist Dave Troy was unsatisfied with the FBI’s vague answer and plans to file an appeal.

Crypto’s most mysterious figure has finally been investigated. The journalist Dave Troy filed a FOIA request with the FBI to find out if the bureau had any files regarding Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin.

The FBI’s response was vague and enigmatic. They provided the usual noncommittal response to questions about any files on Nakamoto, whom they described as a “third party individual.”

Dave was unsatisfied with the FBI’s vague answer with lack of information, for which he shared on X:

“This just in from the FBI, which asserts that Satoshi Nakamoto, the apocryphal creator of Bitcoin, is a ‘third party individual,’ and [they] can neither confirm nor deny the existence of any records on this person.”

What Did the FBI Actually Say?  

In their communication with Dave, the FBI more or less dragged him along. They acknowledged that they had received his FOIA request, and then they replied with the usual response:  

“We can neither confirm nor deny the existence of such records.”  

The FBI argued that acknowledging or denying the existence of records about Nakamoto could lead to “an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy,” a response which the bureau said its common for requests on third parties. In essence, the FBI did not reveal much information.

Image: FBI’s response to Dave Troy’s request, X platform

He said that he did not use the “Deceased Individuals” form for his request, which would have been appropriate if he thought Nakamoto was dead. Rather, he selected the “All Other Subjects” option and provided a detailed application. Dave further explained, “It is the bureau and not me that is claiming that this is an individual.”  

Dave pointed out that he doesn’t want to uncover Nakamoto's identity either. He only wants to know if the FBI has any information on the person responsible for the Bitcoin. He said:

“For the record, my intent is not to establish the identity behind the pseudonym, but rather to get what info the bureau may have on the subject. If that helps establish identity somehow, fine, but that’s not my primary question.”

The FBI stood their ground and advised Dave to check their website for more information on how to request records of third-party individuals, whether alive or deceased.

This kind of response is quite expected when it comes to questions about non-U.S. persons, and it is based on the common assumption that Nakamoto is an undercover name.

It remains unclear whether this pseudonym denotes one person, a group of people, or even a government entity. Dave intends to dispute this decision and extract more information from them.