Unseen Emails Between Satoshi Nakamoto and Adam Back Revealed in COPA Trial
In the ongoing trial between the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) and Craig Wright, previously undisclosed emails between Satoshi Nakamoto and Adam Back have been presented as evidence. The trial, which is taking place in the UK, has attracted significant attention within the crypto community due to its potential impact on Bitcoin’s development and the wider digital currency ecosystem. The emails, dating back to August 2008, shed light on discussions between Nakamoto and Back about the technical aspects of what would later become Bitcoin.
The Early Correspondence
The first email from Nakamoto references Back’s Hashcash paper, which served as a precursor to Bitcoin’s proof-of-work mechanism. In this message, Nakamoto mentions that he plans to release a paper that cites Back’s work and seeks confirmation of the citation. He describes hash-based proof-of-work as a means to make electronic cash function effectively.
Email #2: Adam’s reply
Here Adam suggests that Satoshi investigate a paper called “B-money” by Wei Dei.
Dei was a well-known cryptographer working on digital cash and is frequently considered a potential candidate for Satoshi.
In subsequent emails, Back suggests that Nakamoto explore Wei Dai’s B-money proposal. This is significant because Wright has claimed that B-money influenced his creation of Bitcoin. However, the emails indicate that Nakamoto only became aware of B-money through Back, casting doubt on Wright’s narrative. During his testimony, Back emphasized that his exchanges with Nakamoto were brief and focused on technical matters.
Back also refuted Wright’s claims about the influence of B-money on Bitcoin’s genesis. He stated that based on the emails, he does not believe B-money had an impact on Nakamoto’s thinking. Back further emphasized the importance of Hashcash, challenging Wright’s assertion that Bitcoin relies on a different algorithm.
The Battle for Bitcoin’s Future
COPA views this trial as a crucial fight for the future of Bitcoin. The alliance argues that Wright’s attempts to copyright BTC’s foundational documents pose a threat to innovation and intimidate developers in the industry. By opposing Wright’s claims, COPA aims to ensure that Bitcoin remains an open and collaborative project with its foundational documents accessible to all.
As of now, BTC is trading at $51,204.