https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5.msg28#msg28
The Final Messages: Satoshi Nakamoto's Last Communications
Between December 2010 and April 2011, Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin's pseudonymous creator, gradually withdrew from public view. The series of final messages left behind provide crucial insight into the mindset of cryptocurrency's founding figure during a pivotal moment in Bitcoin's early history.
This article examines the verified timeline of Satoshi's departure, separating confirmed facts from common misconceptions that have circulated over the years.
The WikiLeaks Catalyst
In early December 2010, Bitcoin found itself thrust into an uncomfortable spotlight. WikiLeaks, facing financial blockades from traditional payment processors, was considering adopting Bitcoin as a donation mechanism. This prospect alarmed Nakamoto, who believed the young cryptocurrency was not ready for such intense scrutiny.
On December 5, 2010, Nakamoto posted his famous warning on the Bitcointalk forum:
"It would have been nice to get this attention in any other context. WikiLeaks has kicked the hornet's nest, and the swarm is headed towards us."
This quote is often incorrectly dated to December 11, 2010, but the original forum post confirms December 5th as the accurate date.
The Last Public Forum Post
On December 12, 2010, Satoshi Nakamoto made his final public post on the Bitcointalk forum. The message focused on Bitcoin's technical vulnerabilities, specifically denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, which Nakamoto mentioned multiple times as the network's primary weakness.
The creator appeared deeply concerned that premature association with a politically controversial entity could bring destructive attention before the technology had matured sufficiently.
Note: While many sources claim Satoshi logged off "permanently" on December 13, 2010, this specific date is difficult to independently verify. What we can confirm with certainty is that December 12, 2010 was the date of the last public post.
Private Correspondence Continues
Though Nakamoto had departed from public forums, private communication with select developers continued for several more months. These final exchanges reveal someone carefully orchestrating their exit while ensuring Bitcoin's future development remained secure.
Known Correspondents
Satoshi maintained documented email exchanges with several key figures:
- Hal Finney - Received the first Bitcoin transaction on January 12, 2009
- Gavin Andresen - Became Bitcoin's de facto lead developer
- Mike Hearn - Developer of BitcoinJ, a Java implementation
- Martti Malmi - Early developer who helped build Bitcoin.org
- Dustin Trammell - Early miner and correspondent
Email to Mike Hearn - April 23, 2011
On April 23, 2011, Mike Hearn received an email from Nakamoto. When Hearn inquired about the possibility of Nakamoto returning to the Bitcoin community, the response was definitive.
Nakamoto stated he had "moved on to other things" and expressed confidence that Bitcoin was "in good hands with Gavin and everyone."
The creator also encouraged continued development of BitcoinJ, Hearn's Java implementation of Bitcoin, noting it gave Java developers something to contribute to.
Note: Some sources cite a specific email subject line for this correspondence, but this detail cannot be independently verified from public records. Mike Hearn shared portions of his exchanges with Satoshi, but not all details have been made public.
Email to Gavin Andresen - April 26, 2011
Three days later, on April 26, 2011, Nakamoto sent what would become his final known email to Gavin Andresen.
In this message, Nakamoto expressed frustration with how he was being portrayed in the media. Gavin has publicly quoted Satoshi as writing:
"I wish you wouldn't keep talking about me as a mysterious shadowy figure, the press just turns that into a pirate currency angle."
Instead of emphasizing the mystery, Nakamoto suggested focusing on Bitcoin as an open-source project and giving more credit to development contributors to help motivate them.
It is said (The CIA Connection)
An important piece of context: shortly before this final email, Gavin Andresen had informed Satoshi about an invitation to present Bitcoin at the CIA. Some researchers speculate this may have accelerated Satoshi's decision to withdraw completely, though this remains unconfirmed.
The Alert Key Transfer
Before departing, Satoshi took a crucial step in succession planning: sharing the Bitcoin "alert key" with trusted developers. This key was used for network-wide emergency messages and represented a significant trust transfer. This deliberate action demonstrates that Satoshi's exit was planned, not sudden.
The 2014 Denial
On March 6, 2014, Newsweek published an article claiming to have identified Satoshi Nakamoto as Dorian Nakamoto, a 64-year-old Japanese-American engineer living in California.
Shortly after (sources vary between March 6-7), a message appeared on Satoshi's dormant P2P Foundation account stating simply:
"I am not Dorian Nakamoto."
This brief denial sparked immediate debate about its authenticity. After years of inactivity, Satoshi's accounts may have been compromised. The message's legitimacy remains disputed among researchers.
Since then, no verified communication from Bitcoin's creator has emerged.
Verified Timeline of Satoshi's Departure
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 5, 2010 | Forum post expressing concern about WikiLeaks ("hornet's nest" quote) |
| December 12, 2010 | Final public forum post discussing DoS vulnerabilities |
| Mid-December 2010 | Last known Bitcointalk login (exact date uncertain) |
| April 23, 2011 | Email to Mike Hearn ("moved on to other things") |
| April 26, 2011 | Final email to Gavin Andresen (last verified communication) |
| March 6-7, 2014 | Disputed P2P Foundation post denying Dorian Nakamoto identification |
Understanding the Departure
Nakamoto's exit strategy reveals a thoughtful approach to ensuring Bitcoin's survival and decentralization. By gradually withdrawing while empowering trusted developers like Andresen, the creator avoided creating a single point of failure or leaving a leadership vacuum.
The timing appears influenced by multiple factors:
- Technical concerns about Bitcoin's readiness for mainstream attention
- The WikiLeaks controversy and potential political heat
- Gavin's upcoming CIA presentation
- A desire to let Bitcoin stand on its own merits
The emphasis on avoiding the "mysterious shadowy figure" label suggests Nakamoto understood that Bitcoin's legitimacy would ultimately depend on being perceived as a serious technological project rather than a tool for illicit activity or political subversion.
Legacy and Mystery
More than fourteen years after these final messages, Bitcoin has evolved into a multi-trillion-dollar asset class, thriving without its creator's involvement. Satoshi Nakamoto's true identity remains unknown, with speculation ranging from a single individual to a group of developers, but no conclusive evidence has emerged.
The measured, deliberate nature of these final communications stands in stark contrast to the mystery that followed. They reveal someone who cared deeply about Bitcoin's future but understood that true decentralization required the founder to step back completely.
Perhaps that was Satoshi's final gift to Bitcoin: proving that the network could survive—and thrive—without any single individual, including its own creator.
Accessing the Archives
The most comprehensive public archives of Satoshi Nakamoto's communications can be found at:
- Satoshi Nakamoto Institute: satoshi.nakamotoinstitute.org/emails/
Contains emails from the Cryptography mailing list and Bitcoin development mailing list through December 2010 - Satoshi Nakamoto Institute - Forum Posts: satoshi.nakamotoinstitute.org/posts/
Complete archive of Bitcointalk forum posts - Nakamoto Studies: nakamotostudies.org
Alternative archive and analysis of Satoshi's writings
Important Note: The 2011 private emails to Mike Hearn and Gavin Andresen are not included in these public archives. They have been referenced and partially quoted in numerous historical accounts and interviews with the recipients themselves.
Key Takeaways
- The WikiLeaks "hornet's nest" post was made on December 5, 2010, not December 11 as sometimes reported
- Satoshi's last public forum post was December 12, 2010
- Private emails continued until April 26, 2011
- The 2014 "I am not Dorian Nakamoto" message remains unverified
- Satoshi deliberately transferred responsibilities (including the alert key) before leaving
- The departure was planned and methodical, not sudden
Last updated: 2025
While some communications attributed to Satoshi Nakamoto have appeared after April 2011, most researchers consider the April 26, 2011 email to Gavin Andresen to be the last verified communication from Bitcoin's creator.
