<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Some say we live in the golden age of documentaries \u2013 certainly they are being created at a volume far higher than at any point in history, but for every \u201cMy Octopus Teacher,\u201d a genuinely inspiring and unusual human story, there\u2019s the opposite: cynical trash like \u201cMoney Electric<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start by acknowledging that \u201cMoney Electric\u201d\u00a0upped its own stakes<\/a>, mounting a week-long hype cycle with the promise of a big reveal \u2013 that the world would at last know the identity of Bitcoin\u2019s anonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto.<\/p>\n Maybe let\u2019s also put aside the\u00a0historical baggage there<\/a>. Sure, many journalists have died on this hill, but surely \u201cMoney Electric\u201d might have something to add to the conversation? After all, from the trailer, they seemingly spent millions of dollars paying for Samson Mow\u2019s dinners as he evangelized Bitcoin around the world. (It\u2019s always great to subsidize education!)<\/p>\n There were even hints that maybe there would be something inspired here, a still shot showing a progression of cypherpunks, all of whom have interesting stories. Maybe the \u201cbig reveal\u201d was just a ruse to keep our attention, and maybe there\u2019d be a series of reveals (none taken too seriously) that added up to a compelling story about what Bitcoin is and could be.<\/p>\n Sadly, not. For most of its runtime, \u201cMoney Electric\u201d hides its motives, following its star (director\u00a0Cullen Hoback<\/a>) as he dives into the Bitcoin world. But it\u2019s clear as the film unfolds that the creators had no other motive than outing someone as Satoshi.<\/p>\n How else does a big budget film end up indulging in straight conspiracy theory, dredging up the alternative history of the \u201cBlock Size Wars\u201d as a way to introduce accusations that are almost entirely uninteresting?\u00a0<\/p>\n Hint: The impetus for the big reveal here is that Peter Todd may have worked with a covert government agent to promote his ideas for the Bitcoin roadmap. <\/p>\n It\u2019s here where things go off the rails (or start going to the master plan). After making us suffer his own misdirection, Hoback and Co. finally play their cards, unearthing a series of purported evidences that show Adam Back and Peter Todd (as well as Greg Maxwell for some reason) were all secretly Satoshi.\u00a0<\/p>\n Truly, the most banal and oft-repeated of theories. <\/p>\n From there, we see a series of \u201cgotchas\u201d that would have all been easily disproved if the directors did basic follow-up research.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s review:<\/p>\n Taking a step back, it\u2019s hard to know what to say about this sequence except that it\u2019s both a marvel of creativity and cynicism, and in saying this, know that\u2019s in no way a compliment. <\/p>\n To start, Hoback makes no legitimate attempt to engage Back or Todd on his finding. He merely presents the material as he found it, films them reacting, and closes up shop. It makes sense, even someone like me will admit there\u2019s a non-zero chance Back or Todd was Satoshi. There aren\u2019t many people you can\u2019t rule out entirely, and they are among them.<\/p>\n Sadly, a non-zero chance is not a smoking gun. It\u2019s not proof.<\/p>\n Todd and Back\u2019s internet presence, while removed from the web, is accessible. I\u2019ve read it. No, they weren\u2019t the only ones involved in digital cash who erased things.\u00a0<\/p>\n Of course, with the Magic of editing, and by exposing the \u201cfindings\u201d to no criticism, I\u2019m sure many viewers will walk away thinking they\u2019ve been shown a clever and well-researched theory.<\/p>\n All Hoback proved to me is that he understands the shortcuts you can take when making a documentary. It alone among creative works allows you to hide all your errors behind editing, while making baseless and dangerous accusations seem plausible.<\/p>\n And to be clear, claiming that someone is Satoshi without evidence is exactly that.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s hope no one gets hurt because of his idiocy.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/bitcoinmagazine.com\/.image\/c_fit%2Ch_800%2Cw_1200\/MjA5NjU2NTkzNTYwNjQzMDAy\/screenshot-2024-09-30-at-11422pm.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\n