- Crypto attorney James Murphy is suing the Department of Homeland Security to uncover the true identity of Bitcoin’s mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
- The lawsuit cites a DHS agent’s 2019 claim that the agency had already identified and interviewed the individuals behind Bitcoin.
In a bold new twist to the ongoing mystery surrounding the identity of Bitcoin’s creator, prominent cryptocurrency attorney James Murphy—better known to his online followers as MetaLawMan—has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The suit, lodged in a D.C. District Court, demands that the DHS release records allegedly confirming the identities of the individuals behind the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of the world’s first and most valuable cryptocurrency.
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Murphy’s legal crusade hinges on a striking claim made during a 2019 industry conference by DHS Special Agent Rana Saoud, who stated that the department had located the true creators of Bitcoin. According to Saoud, Satoshi was not one person, but a group of four individuals based in California. She further claimed these individuals had already been interviewed by federal agents about their motivations and technical know-how behind the revolutionary digital asset.
To date, none of this information has been made public. Murphy, backed by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Field—a specialist in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation—argues that withholding such revelations undermines the public’s right to transparency.
“If the government does indeed have this information, it should not be withheld from the public,” Murphy told Crypto In America. “Bitcoin is a global financial phenomenon. The public has a right to know who started it.”
The lawsuit arrives at a time of increasing tension within the Bitcoin community, which remains sharply divided over the value—or danger—of unmasking Nakamoto. While some believe the truth could clarify the origins of Bitcoin and bring accountability, others fear it might compromise its decentralized ethos and expose creators to undue risk.
Murphy hopes that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem will choose to disclose the information voluntarily. But if not, he’s ready for a legal battle that could rewrite the history of crypto.
The DHS has yet to comment on the case.
