Cryptocurrency lawyer accuses the U.S. government of concealing the identity of the Bitcoin founder.

A lawyer specializing in cryptocurrency believes that the U.S. government may hold the key to answering one of the greatest mysteries of the tech age: the true identity of Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.

On Monday, James Murphy officially filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), alleging that the agency is aware of Nakamoto’s identity.

In a post on platform X, Murphy, who identifies himself as “MetaLawMan,” explained the reasons that motivated him to file the lawsuit.

“My FOIA lawsuit requests the release of documents related to a statement by a senior DHS agent that the agency has found and interviewed the creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto,” Murphy wrote.

Enacted in July 1966, the Freedom of Information Act allows the public to access documents from federal government agencies, with the aim of enhancing transparency and accountability in government.

Over the years, the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto has been the subject of controversy, with many names listed in question, including Hal Finney, Gavin Andresen, Nick Szabo, Adam Back, Len Sassaman, Craig Wright, Dorian Nakamoto, Elon Musk and, most recently, Peter Todd. However, all of these individuals have denied or dismissed the relevant claims.

In the lawsuit, Murphy alleged that a federal agent, identified as Agent Rana Saoud, stated at the 2019 Offshore Alert Conference on Finance and Investigation that DHS had interviewed Nakamoto in California.

“We used to get protests from headquarters, but we thought, 'If the agent wants to talk to him and we have the resources, why not give it a try? Let’s see how this plays out. Agents flew to California and discovered that he wasn’t traveling alone—there were three others. They sat down, talked to this group, learned how things work and why they created it,” Saoud is said to have said.

“If the interview actually took place as the DHS agent claimed, there must certainly be documentation recording the content of that meeting,” Murphy emphasized.

Murphy argues that the records related to this meeting could hold significant meaning, especially in the context of policymakers actively considering investing in Bitcoin.

In the FOIA request, Murphy urged DHS to release documents, including a transcript of Saoud’s speech at the 2019 conference, along with any other documents—such as recordings, notes, or correspondence—related to interviews with individuals who are believed to be or claim to be Satoshi Nakamoto.

This FOIA lawsuit continues to heat up the decades-long mystery surrounding the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, a topic that has sparked no small amount of speculation and legal disputes.

Notably, in 2024, a court in the UK ruled that Craig Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto, following a years-long legal battle with the Open Patent Alliance for Cryptocurrency. Wright had previously claimed to be Nakamoto in December 2015.

Murphy affirmed that he is still open to all possibilities and is determined to find the truth.

“It is entirely possible that DHS agents were mistaken and that DHS did not actually interview the real Satoshi. However, if DHS refuses to disclose information, I will pursue the lawsuit to the end to clarify this mystery,” Murphy wrote.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Investors should do their own research before making decisions. We are not responsible for your investment decisions.

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