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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/mar/07/satoshi-nakamoto-denies-inventing-bitcoin
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Satoshi Nakamoto denies inventing bitcoin amid farcical media chase | Satoshi Nakamoto denies inventing bitcoin amid farcical media chase |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Nakamoto, 64, | Nakamoto, 64, |
| disputed a Newsweek cover story that on Thursday unmasked him as the “father of bitcoin”. His denial cast doubt on a putative scoop | disputed a Newsweek cover story that on Thursday unmasked him as the “father of bitcoin”. His denial cast doubt on a putative scoop |
| the magazine used to relaunch its print edition. | the magazine used to relaunch its print edition. |
| Nakamoto made the | Nakamoto made the |
| denial in an interview with the Associated Press after a day of near-slapstick scenes in which dozens of journalists pursued him and an AP | denial in an interview with the Associated Press after a day of near-slapstick scenes in which dozens of journalists pursued him and an AP |
| reporter through the city, provoking a social media storm. “I | reporter through the city, provoking a social media storm. “I |
| got nothing to do with it,” he said. | got nothing to do with it,” he said. |
| A media posse continued | A media posse continued |
| seeking Nakamoto on Thursday night after he left the AP office in | seeking Nakamoto on Thursday night after he left the AP office in |
| downtown LA where he and the reporter had sought refuge earlier in | downtown LA where he and the reporter had sought refuge earlier in |
| the day. | the day. |
| The Newsweek story, | The Newsweek story, |
| written by Leah McGrath Goodman, named him as “the mystery man | written by Leah McGrath Goodman, named him as “the mystery man |
| behind the crypto-currency” which exploded in popularity in 2013 | behind the crypto-currency” which exploded in popularity in 2013 |
| and supposedly made its founder worth $400m. | and supposedly made its founder worth $400m. |
| During a recent | During a recent |
| encounter at the doorstep of his modest two-storey home in Temple | encounter at the doorstep of his modest two-storey home in Temple |
| City, a suburb in the San Gabriel valley, he tacitly acknowledged his | City, a suburb in the San Gabriel valley, he tacitly acknowledged his |
| role, said the report. “I am no longer | role, said the report. “I am no longer |
| involved in that and I cannot discuss it,” it quoted him saying. | involved in that and I cannot discuss it,” it quoted him saying. |
| “It’s been turned over to other people. They are in charge of it | “It’s been turned over to other people. They are in charge of it |
| now. I no longer have any connection.” | now. I no longer have any connection.” |
| That version wobbled | That version wobbled |
| when Nakamoto told AP he had never heard of bitcoin until contacted | when Nakamoto told AP he had never heard of bitcoin until contacted |
| by Newsweek three weeks ago. | by Newsweek three weeks ago. |
| The confusion was the | The confusion was the |
| latest twist to bitcoin’s rollercoaster fortunes. After hitting a | latest twist to bitcoin’s rollercoaster fortunes. After hitting a |
| peak of $1,200 last year it tumbled to $130 last month after its most | peak of $1,200 last year it tumbled to $130 last month after its most |
| popular exchange, Mt Gox, collapsed. It was rebounding this week and | popular exchange, Mt Gox, collapsed. It was rebounding this week and |
| valued at $665 on Thursday despite another scandal involving the bank | valued at $665 on Thursday despite another scandal involving the bank |
| Flexcoin. Detractors have accused bitcoin of facilitating drug | Flexcoin. Detractors have accused bitcoin of facilitating drug |
| smuggling and money laundering. | smuggling and money laundering. |
| Satoshi Nakamoto, a | Satoshi Nakamoto, a |
| name attributed to the currency’s founder, was widely deemed a | name attributed to the currency’s founder, was widely deemed a |
| pseudonym for an elusive, genius hacker. Numerous media organisations tried and failed to find him. | pseudonym for an elusive, genius hacker. Numerous media organisations tried and failed to find him. |
| The article quoted his | The article quoted his |
| brother Arthur saying Nakamoto, born in Japan, was a bit | brother Arthur saying Nakamoto, born in Japan, was a bit |
| eccentric, gifted at mathematics, had worked for defence and electronics | |
| companies and had a penchant for model trains. | companies and had a penchant for model trains. |
| It said he graduated | It said he graduated |
| from California State Polytechnic University and changed his name to | from California State Polytechnic University and changed his name to |
| Dorian Prentice Satoshi Nakamoto in 1973, from which point he signed | Dorian Prentice Satoshi Nakamoto in 1973, from which point he signed |
| his name Dorian S Nakamoto. | his name Dorian S Nakamoto. |
| Within hours of | Within hours of |
| publication dozens of journalists camped outside Nakamoto’s door, | publication dozens of journalists camped outside Nakamoto’s door, |
| ringing the bell with no response, until their silver-haired, | ringing the bell with no response, until their silver-haired, |
| bespectacled quarry, dressed in a grey sports coat and striped shirt, | bespectacled quarry, dressed in a grey sports coat and striped shirt, |
| emerged and said he wanted someone who spoke Japanese and would buy | emerged and said he wanted someone who spoke Japanese and would buy |
| him lunch. | him lunch. |
| “I’m not involved | “I’m not involved |
| in bitcoin. Wait a minute, I want my free lunch first. I’m going with | in bitcoin. Wait a minute, I want my free lunch first. I’m going with |
| this guy,” Nakamoto said, pointing at an AP reporter. “I’m | this guy,” Nakamoto said, pointing at an AP reporter. “I’m |
| not in bitcoin, I don’t know anything about it.” | not in bitcoin, I don’t know anything about it.” |
| Cameras followed as the | Cameras followed as the |
| pair headed in a Prius to a sushi restaurant. When reporters intruded | pair headed in a Prius to a sushi restaurant. When reporters intruded |
| they left and drove downtown, the pursuers tweeting all the way and | they left and drove downtown, the pursuers tweeting all the way and |
| making comparisons to the OJ Simpson highway chase in 1994. | making comparisons to the OJ Simpson highway chase in 1994. |
| Twitter exploded in | Twitter exploded in |
| glee and indignation via the hashtag #bitcoinchase, some people enjoying the spectacle but | glee and indignation via the hashtag #bitcoinchase, some people enjoying the spectacle but |
| others critical of what they called media hounding. | others critical of what they called media hounding. |
| A fake account, | A fake account, |
| @DorianSatoshi, made jokey comments along the way. “Speeding west | @DorianSatoshi, made jokey comments along the way. “Speeding west |
| down the 10. I feel like this is going to end badly.” And: “So | down the 10. I feel like this is going to end badly.” And: “So |
| many offers for free lunch. Looks like this bitcoin thing is paying | many offers for free lunch. Looks like this bitcoin thing is paying |
| off for me after all!” Later: “Ugh. AP journo isn’t even asking | off for me after all!” Later: “Ugh. AP journo isn’t even asking |
| me questions. He’s just pitching his idea for APcoin.” | me questions. He’s just pitching his idea for APcoin.” |
| The pair took refuge | The pair took refuge |
| in the news agency’s downtown headquarters, leaving a media mob | in the news agency’s downtown headquarters, leaving a media mob |
| outside. In AP’s report, published late on Thursday, the alleged | outside. In AP’s report, published late on Thursday, the alleged |
| currency mastermind said his English was imperfect and that the | currency mastermind said his English was imperfect and that the |
| Newsweek reporter misinterpreted him when he said was “no longer | Newsweek reporter misinterpreted him when he said was “no longer |
| involved in that”. | involved in that”. |
| “I’m saying I’m no | “I’m saying I’m no |
| longer in engineering. That’s it,” he said of the exchange. “And | longer in engineering. That’s it,” he said of the exchange. “And |
| even if I was, when we get hired you have to sign this document, | even if I was, when we get hired you have to sign this document, |
| contract, saying you will not reveal anything we divulge during and | contract, saying you will not reveal anything we divulge during and |
| after employment. So that’s what I implied. It sounded like I was | after employment. So that’s what I implied. It sounded like I was |
| involved before with bitcoin and looked like I’m not involved now. | involved before with bitcoin and looked like I’m not involved now. |
| That’s not what I meant. I want to clarify that,” he said. | That’s not what I meant. I want to clarify that,” he said. |
| McGrath Goodman, who | McGrath Goodman, who |
| spent two months researching the story, responded that she stood by | spent two months researching the story, responded that she stood by |
| her version of the exchange on his doorstep. “There was no confusion whatsoever | her version of the exchange on his doorstep. “There was no confusion whatsoever |
| about the context of our conversation – and his acknowledgment of his | about the context of our conversation – and his acknowledgment of his |
| involvement in bitcoin.” | involvement in bitcoin.” |