<p>He can prove that he has the private key matching the address used in the genesis block.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-15T12:22:49.220Z
Isn't that used to sign the Alert messages by the current developers?
ThePiachu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-15T15:35:49.743Z
@ThePiachu No. That's a different key.
theymos
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-15T11:00:44.717Z
2012-04-15T11:00:44.717Z
Thilo
<p>The way it works is by the public/private key cryptography</p>
<p>Satoshi has shared his public key used to verify signatures here: <a href="https://bitcointalk.org/Satoshi_Nakamoto.asc" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://bitcointalk.org/Satoshi_Nakamoto.asc</a></p>
<pre><code>-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32)
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=3FTe
-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
</code></pre>
<p>Keys are created with</p>
<pre><code>gpg --gen-key
gpg --list-keys
</code></pre>
<p>name.asc is the file file format for public key export you can get it like this</p>
<pre><code>gpg --export --armor yourname &gt; publickey.asc
</code></pre>
<p>He can then encrypt some file with</p>
<pre><code>gpg --output document.sig --sign document.pdf
</code></pre>
<p>And all of us can check with his public key</p>
<pre><code>gpg --import Satoshi_Nakamoto.asc
gpg --output document.pdf --decrypt document.sig
</code></pre>
<p>But only the he can encrypt files</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-02-09T09:17:46.377Z
2024-02-09T09:17:46.377Z
Daniel Georgiev
<p>He has a <a href="https://bitcointalk.org/Satoshi_Nakamoto.asc">PGP public key</a> which he can use to sign things.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-13T18:22:20.897Z
Let's hope he didn't lose his hard drive on some electricity hiccup or something, then.
Aviad Ben Dov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-14T00:04:33.623Z
@AviadBenDov I'm sure he had it backed up.
BinaryMage
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-14T15:23:43.353Z
If anyone understands that data doesn't exist unless it's in more than one place, it's Satoshi Nakamoto.
Gary
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-13T15:07:29.623Z
2012-04-13T15:07:29.623Z
theymos
<p>Should Satoshi decide to reveal his or her true identity, how can one know the person is the real creator of Bitcoin, rather than a person who hacked the forum login, email address or the like? In other words, what methods of authentication did Satoshi use that could clearly identify him or her?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-14T15:25:24.083Z
While this is not strictly a Bitcoin question, it does lead to discussion of techniques that are related to Bitcoin in terms of proof of identity.
Gary
<bitcoin-core><satoshi-nakamoto><authentication><public-key><identity>
How would we know the real Satoshi?
ThePiachu
# How would we know the real Satoshi?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-04-13)

Should Satoshi decide to reveal his or her true identity, how can one know the person is the real creator of Bitcoin, rather than a person who hacked the forum login, email address or the like? In other words, what methods of authentication did Satoshi use that could clearly identify him or her?

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, satoshi-nakamoto, authentication, public-key, identity

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: While this is not strictly a Bitcoin question, it does lead to discussion of techniques that are related to Bitcoin in terms of proof of identity.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-04-13. Score: 23 | Accepted answer

He has a [PGP public key](https://bitcointalk.org/Satoshi_Nakamoto.asc) which he can use to sign things.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Let's hope he didn't lose his hard drive on some electricity hiccup or something, then.  
> **username_6**: @AviadBenDov I'm sure he had it backed up.  
> **username_1**: If anyone understands that data doesn't exist unless it's in more than one place, it's Satoshi Nakamoto.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-04-15. Score: 9

He can prove that he has the private key matching the address used in the genesis block.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Isn't that used to sign the Alert messages by the current developers?  
> **username_3**: @username_0 No. That's a different key.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2024-02-09. Score: 1

The way it works is by the public/private key cryptography
Satoshi has shared his public key used to verify signatures here: https://bitcointalk.org/Satoshi_Nakamoto.asc
-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32)
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=3FTe
-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----

Keys are created with
gpg --gen-key
gpg --list-keys

name.asc is the file file format for public key export you can get it like this
gpg --export --armor yourname > publickey.asc

He can then encrypt some file with
gpg --output document.sig --sign document.pdf

And all of us can check with his public key
gpg --import Satoshi_Nakamoto.asc
gpg --output document.pdf --decrypt document.sig

But only the he can encrypt files


---

