Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has reignited speculation about David Schwartz potentially being the elusive Bitcoin creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. During a recent podcast, Garlinghouse mentioned that some developers behind the XRP Ledger (XRPL) were also early contributors to the Bitcoin network. These developers aimed to create a better digital asset, addressing Bitcoin’s scalability issues and high energy consumption.
Garlinghouse’s remarks have sparked curiosity within the crypto community. Many now suggest that Ripple CTO David Schwartz could be Satoshi Nakamoto. Notably, Abdullah “Abs” Nassif, host of the Good Morning Crypto podcast, has added fuel to this speculation.
Evidence And Speculations
Prominent XRP community member wEeZiE previously suggested this possibility in a 2022 X post. They highlighted several events that support this theory. For instance, development on XRP started in May 2011, shortly after Nakamoto’s last known communication.
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On April 23, 2011, Nakamoto emailed Mike Hearn about moving on to other projects. Around the same time, Schwartz disclosed he was seeking new opportunities, which eventually led to the creation of the XRP Ledger with Arthur Britto and Jed McCaleb.
Moreover, wEeZiE noted Schwartz’s early interest in Bitcoin, reflecting Nakamoto’s concerns about centralized monetary control. They also pointed out that Schwartz, like Nakamoto, used a pseudonym, “Joel Katz.” Intriguingly, Nakamoto shared a pre-released version of the Bitcoin code on November 16, 2009, coinciding with Schwartz’s birthday.
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Schwartz’s Response
There is still no confirmation regarding the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto or if Schwartz fits the bill. Other individuals, like Australian computer scientist Craig Wright, have claimed to be Nakamoto, but a federal court dismissed Wright’s claims earlier this year. Despite this, some Bitcoin enthusiasts believe Wright could be Nakamoto.
In response, Schwartz remarked he is more likely to be Nakamoto than Wright. He referenced Nakamoto’s description of Ripple as a company interested in developing a trust-based payment system, aligning with Schwartz’s own views and work.
The debate over Satoshi Nakamoto’s true identity remains unresolved. While Garlinghouse’s comments have reignited theories about Schwartz, conclusive evidence is still lacking. The crypto community continues to speculate, searching for definitive answers.
