- Coinbase exec finds Satoshi-linked Bitcoin transactions tied to Cavirtex exchange.
- Kraken’s 2016 Cavirtex acquisition may hold KYC data linked to Satoshi Nakamoto.
- On-chain analysis suggests Satoshi’s last known activity may have been in 2014.
An on-chain analysis recently identified new information regarding Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto. Conor Grogram, head of product business operations at Coinbase, has revealed on-chain data to explore transactions linked to Nakamoto through Cavirtex before this Canadian Bitcoin exchange went defunct. This research discovery presents the first potential connection between wallets linked to Satoshi Nakamoto and centralized exchange systems (CEXs).
Cavirtex served as an exchange platform before its purchase by Kraken in 2016, which allowed Bitcoin users to perform asset exchanges. The discovery that Satoshi might have used this exchange triggers new inquiries about who the Bitcoin inventor truly is. Kraken acquired Cavirtex, but experts believe the exchange continues to hold records from its customer base during that period. This suggests that Kraken’s founder, Jesse Powell, potentially holds data that could reveal Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity.
Kraken’s Potential Access to KYC Data
The purchase of Cavirtex by Kraken in 2016 has led experts to believe the exchange potentially retains Know Your Customer (KYC) documentation about wallets linked to Satoshi. However, the application of KYC regulations was minimal throughout the crypto market. Kraken adopted KYC for all its users in 2017 but allowed previous users to bypass this requirement. The absence of records creates doubts regarding the existence of such information.
Since 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto has remained an unidentified creator of Bitcoin despite many proposed individual identities, including Craig Wright. The community still speculates about Nakamoto’s identity, yet recent emerging data strengthens the argument for uncovering Nakamoto’s real identity.
New Bitcoin Transactions Linked to Satoshi’s Wallet
The most recent analysis revealed new blockchain-based activities from wallets associated with Satoshi. One Satoshi-linked wallet processed a transaction that led to Cavirtex, demonstrating that Nakamoto had interactions with centralized exchanges when Bitcoin started. The Bitcoin address “1PYYj” connects to 12ib, which holds $3 billion worth of BTC today and is among the largest Bitcoin ownership accounts available. The 1PYYj address implies Nakamoto operated it or it served as an early Bitcoin contributor.
In addition to the Cavirtex connection, another transaction from Satoshi’s wallet sent Bitcoin to a faucet service in the early days of Bitcoin. Faucets were used to distribute free Bitcoin in small amounts, which was common during Bitcoin’s infancy when its value was still minimal. These transactions are crucial in understanding the distribution of Bitcoin and the activities of its early adopters.