Attorney Sues Department of Homeland Security to Unmask Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto

Highlights:

• Murphy files FOIA lawsuit against DHS to uncover Bitcoin creator’s identity.
• DHS agent claims meeting with Bitcoin creator, Murphy demands access to records.
• The mystery of Satoshi Nakamoto deepens as new theories surface.

On April 7, crypto attorney James A. Murphy, also known as “MetaLawMan,” filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He alleges that the agency may possess information about the true creator of Bitcoin (BTC), Satoshi Nakamoto. The lawsuit aims to compel DHS to publicly disclose any relevant details.

Attorney Sues Following DHS Claims About BTC Creator’s Identity

Murphy said he filed the lawsuit after a claim was made at the OffshoreAlert Conference North America on April 29, 2019. At that conference, a DHS Special Agent Rana Saoud reportedly said they had found out who Nakamoto is and even met him in person in California. Three others were also at the meeting, and all were said to be involved in creating Bitcoin.

In the presentation, Saoud said:

“The agents flew to California and they realized that he wasn’t alone in creating this, there were three other people, they sat down and talked with them to find out how this actually works and what the reason for it was.”

The crypto lawyer is now seeking access to internal DHS documents, emails, and notes that could confirm whether the meeting ever took place. He argues that if the interview did occur, there should be a paper trail left behind. His legal action is focused on making those records available to the public. 

Meanwhile, Murphy has urged DHS Secretary Christy Noem to release the information voluntarily. Murphy mentioned on X that it was possible the DHS agent had been mistaken and that the real Satoshi was not interviewed. He also stated that if DHS refused to disclose the information, he would continue pursuing the case until the mystery was solved.

The Great Mystery of the 21st Century–Who is Bitcoin Creator "Satoshi Nakamoto?"

The United States Government claims to know the answer–but isn't talking.

So, today I sued the U.S. Government to find out exactly what it knows.

🧵👇

— MetaLawMan (@MetaLawMan) April 7, 2025

The Mystery Behind Satoshi Nakamoto

The identity of Bitcoin’s creator has remained one of the biggest mysteries in the crypto world. Nakamoto, who released the Bitcoin white paper in 2008 and launched the network in 2009, vanished soon after.

The identity, or identities, behind Nakamoto’s name has sparked debate for over a decade. Murphy believes the issue has become more urgent due to the billions invested in spot Bitcoin ETFs. He also points to a recent executive order by Donald Trump, which established a strategic Bitcoin reserve using federally forfeited assets.

Last year, HBO released a documentary titled The Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery, which speculated that Canadian developer Peter Todd could be behind the pseudonym. Todd denied the claim, calling it unfounded and misleading. Another theory came from Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research at VanEck. He pointed to Twitter founder Jack Dorsey as a possible creator. Sigel mentioned technical similarities and evidence from entrepreneur Sean Murray.

Although the theory isn’t definitive, Sigel believes the patterns are too strong to dismiss. However, many in the crypto community see Bitcoin’s lack of a central figure as one of its key strengths. They argue that the founder should remain anonymous to maintain the network’s decentralized nature.