Satoshi Nakamoto Celebrates 50th Birthday as Bitcoin Becomes a US Reserve Asset

Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, celebrates their 50th birthday amidst a year of increasing institutional and geopolitical adoption of the world’s first cryptocurrency.

Nakamoto’s true identity remains one of the greatest enigmas in crypto, with theories ranging from cryptographers like Adam Back and Nick Szabo to more elaborate speculations involving government intelligence agencies.

Although Nakamoto's identity remains unknown, it's believed that the Bitcoin creator turned 50 on April 5, based on historical information. Archived data from Nakamoto’s P2P Foundation profile reveals that he once stated he was a 37-year-old man living in Japan, with his birthdate listed as April 5, 1975.

Nakamoto's decision to remain anonymous has been essential in upholding the decentralized nature of the Bitcoin network, which functions without any central control or leadership.

The Bitcoin wallet attributed to Nakamoto, holding more than 1 million BTC, has stayed dormant for over 16 years, despite the price of BTC rising from $0 to a peak above $109,000 in January.

Nakamoto's 50th birthday comes less than a month after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a Digital Asset Stockpile, marking the first significant move toward incorporating Bitcoin into the U.S. financial system.

Nakamoto’s legacy: A "pillar of economic sovereignty"

“At 50, Nakamoto’s legacy extends beyond just code; it has become a foundational element of economic sovereignty,” remarked Anndy Lian, author and blockchain expert for intergovernmental organizations.

“Bitcoin’s status as a reserve asset is a testament to its scarcity and resilience,” Lian told Cointelegraph, adding:

“The timing is particularly striking. Fifty is a symbolic milestone—half a century of life, mirrored by Bitcoin’s transformation from a simple white paper to a trillion-dollar asset. Nakamoto’s vision of trustless, peer-to-peer currency has evolved beyond its cypherpunk origins and entered the world of influence and power.”

Nevertheless, unanswered questions about Nakamoto persist, including whether they still control the keys to their wallet, which Lian points out is now “a fortune intertwined with US policy.”

Is Satoshi Nakamoto richer than Bill Gates?

In February, Arkham Intelligence revealed that Nakamoto is linked to 1.096 million BTC, which was worth more than $108 billion at the time. This would position Nakamoto ahead of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in the global wealth rankings, according to data shared by Coinbase director Conor Grogan.

Satoshi’s new addresses. Source: Conor Grogan

If this information is correct, Nakamoto would be the 16th richest person in the world.

Despite the increasing curiosity surrounding Nakamoto’s identity and wealth, his early choice to remain anonymous and inactive has played a key role in preserving Bitcoin’s decentralized ethos—a principle that continues to define the cryptocurrency today.