Remember that story about HBO supposedly finding the real Satoshi? Well, that once again sparked a wave of internet speculation. And every time such discussions happen, one name keeps popping up — Nick Szabo.

Do you know why Nick Szabo is so often mentioned in the context of Bitcoin's creation? Because this guy literally predicted the future back in the 90s. An American cryptographer and computer scientist, graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Computer Science in 1989. Plus, he also holds a PhD in Law from George Washington University.

In 1994, Nick Szabo introduced the concept of smart contracts — literally a revolutionary idea that became the foundation of the entire blockchain industry. Then, in 1998, he proposed bit gold — a digital currency that solved the double-spending problem through proof-of-work. Sounds familiar? Because it’s almost a prototype of Bitcoin.

Szabo’s bit gold used a chain of cryptographic solutions but relied on a quorum of addresses instead of computational power. The system had vulnerabilities to Sybil attacks, but the idea was revolutionary. Szabo himself explained it like this: our money depends on trust in third parties, and that doesn’t work, as history of inflation in the 20th century has shown.

Then, exactly 10 years after bit gold, in October 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin white paper. And if you have even a little crypto knowledge, you’ll notice that bit gold is practically a direct predecessor of BTC.

Now, about why Nick Szabo is considered the main candidate for Satoshi. First, the obvious reason — he created bit gold, which is conceptually very close to Bitcoin. Second, he clearly has the technical skills for this. Third, researchers have noted a striking similarity in writing styles between Szabo and Nakamoto. Both referenced economist Karl Menger, both are obsessed with privacy.

There are even prediction markets like Polymarket where people bet on Satoshi’s identity. Len Sassaman was the leading contender earlier, but Nick Szabo has gradually moved into the lead. His probability is estimated in double digits, while other candidates remain in single digits.

The most interesting part? Nick Szabo constantly denies being Satoshi. And that’s what most hints that he might be right. Because those who truly claim this title are almost always impostors. Cryptocurrency history teaches us one thing — the real Satoshi simply wouldn’t talk about it.