Sometimes I think about Faketoshi, one of the greatest charlatans of modern times. I remember watching that first presentation of him in those tight blue jeans and asking myself could this really be the man himself, could this be Satoshi Nakamoto?
I was too ignorant to know one way or the other. But as the months passed, and he showed up at more and more conferences, I began to think, maybe, just maybe. For someone without a background in computer science, I couldn’t tell if the things he said were brilliant, or idiotic. Meanwhile, people like Roger and Gavin seemed to believe he was who he said he was, who was I to disagree?
Then there was a part of me that wanted to believe, because wouldn’t it be great if he was? After all he supported the big block version of Bitcoin I loved, not to mention everything he could do with his stash of more than a million coins.
For a while I genuinely thought he could be the real deal. It’s been too long now, and I can’t remember exactly what it was that convinced me he was just another fake, but I know that the more he talked, and the more I listened, the more I doubted.
Then Vitalik Buterin publicly called him a fraud in front of hundreds of people, and there was all that evidence of his plagiarism, and the time he claimed to control an address and got btfo, and the courier who never showed up, and on and on the list goes.
I’m sure some of you reading this are probably wondering why I’m talking about him at all. I guess a part of me is just feeling a bit nostalgic. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I’m approaching the 4 year anniversary of buying my first coins and it feels like it’s the end of an era. But also it’s mostly because I randomly thought of him earlier tonight and I couldn’t help but laugh as I imagined what it was like for those who sat in the audience during his presentations and did have the knowledge to realize the man was talking nonsense. What an unbelievable moment that must have been.
Anyway, thank you for all the memories faketoshi. At least you had balls (and who could forget the red socks, or the watches, or that time you kissed a guy for the lulz).
If anything, he’s earned a place in Bitcoin history, even if ultimately he only ends up being a footnote.