Speculation abounds as to the identity of the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto, the holder of a million Bitcoin and soon to be wealthiest person on the planet. Reporters want you to believe they found him (or maybe him) or they have the inside scoop and others even claim to be him. The only real consensus is that Satoshi Nakamoto is a known unknown, but...

What do I mean with that statement? An unknown known is in essence a given known whose true meaning remains unknown, or whose value we do not yet realize.

Ask yourself this: What if 'Satoshi Nakamoto' isn't a person or group of people at all, but an idea, a place-holder per se? What if 'Satoshi Nakamoto' isn't just an idea, but an encrypted idea? An idea encrypted by the crypto-king himself? What if 'Satoshi Nakamoto' is in fact the first clue to a cryptographic puzzle? And what if the answer to that puzzle is itself a cryptographic key? What could it be a key to?

What if understanding 'Satoshi Nakamoto' is the first step to finding the address and keys to the fabled first mining pools that contains ca. 1 million Bitcoin? Is that an idea worth entertaining? What if....

If that is the case, the first piece of the puzzle is the name itself. Until now, the question has been phrased as "Who is Satoshi Nakamoto?"

If however 'Satoshi Nakamoto' is a clue, the question becomes "What is Satoshi Nakamoto?" Or perhaps, "How is 'Satoshi Nakamoto' to be understood to enable us to find the next clue?"

Q: What is 'Satoshi Nakamoto'?

A: The first clue.

Q: How is 'Satoshi Nakamoto' to be understood?

A: As a pseudonym for the author or authors of the white paper. Both 'Satoshi' and 'Nakamoto' are traditional Japanese names. Perhaps the meaning is significant?

'Satoshi' means ["clear thinking, quick witted, wise"}(http://www.ourbabynamer.com/meaning-of-Satoshi.html).

'Nakamoto' means (from the Japanese)"中 (naka) meaning "middle" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin". Alternatively, Japanese: ‘central origin’ or ‘(one who lives) in the middle’; found mostly in the Ryukyu islands..

This would also seem fitting for Bitcoin, as the "origin or root of clear thinking". The use of the term 'root' seems particularly appropriate given the computer background necessary for Bitcoin.

This approach has also been considered by Adam L. Penenberg in his eminently readable article "The Bitcoin Crypto-Currency Mystery Reopened". He states:

In Japanese Satoshi translates into “clear-thinking; quick-witted; wise.” “Naka” can mean “inside” or “relationship” while “moto” is defined as “the origin; the cause; the foundation; the basis.” So we have “clear-thinking” “inside” “the foundation.” Mystical, isn’t it?

I find Penenberg's contribution some of the most convincing research to date that postulates Satoshi Nakamoto to be an actual individual or group of people seeking to conceal their identities, it is however, inconclusive.

The etymological "root" may also be considered to provide an associative connection to Bix Weir's "Road to Roota (Root-A)" theory that postulates Alan Greenspan is our elusive Satoshi Nakamoto, but I doubt it. (Hi Hive account@bixlives! You might be right, who knows?)

Q: How else can "Satoshi Nakamoto" be understood?

A: Satoshi Nakamoto could be an anagram of "Astonish aka Moto"; Satoshi Nakamato a.k.a. Astonish Moto; Satoshi Nakamoto also known as the Astonish(ing) Motor. It is worth noting that anagram solvers provide only 'astonish' as an anagram for 'satoshi n'.

Q: Why "Astonish(ing) Moto(r)"?

A: The etymology of "astonish (v.) c. 1300, astonien, "to stun, strike senseless," from Old French estoner "to stun, daze, deafen, astound," from Vulgar Latin *extonare, from Latin ex "out" (see ex-) + tonare "to thunder" (see thunder (n.)); so, literally "to leave someone thunderstruck." The modern form (influenced by English verbs in -ish, such as distinguish, diminish) is attested from 1520s. The meaning "amaze, shock with wonder" is from 1610s.

The etymology of moto- word-forming element meaning "motion, motor," from Latin motus, past participle of movere "to move, set in motion" (from PIE root *meue- "to push away")..

Together these terms certainly seem to describe Bitcoin. It is certainly astounding for the people at large, a thunderous pushing away from the indentured servitude that characterizes the private central banking monetary system of today. Bitcoin also appears to be the thunder that will strike the banksters down. Something that can't come fast enough for humanity. To them I dedicate AC/DC's _"Thunderstruck"!

Q: Is there another way to interpret 'Satoshi Nakamoto'?

A: Another variant of 'Astonish aka Moto' which may be viable is "Astonish" aka "Moto" where Moto does not refer to a motor, but to the character Mr. Moto from the novels of John P. Marquand.

Mr. Moto is a fictional Japanese secret agent who appeared in a comic book, six novels, nine films and 23 radio show episodes.

Mr Moto is short slender man of indeterminate age who speaks perfect English as well as numerous Chinese dialects. He seems to have questionable taste in clothes (checked golfing suits on train rides, for example) has noticeable gold fillings in his front teeth and keeps his hair in a "Prussian Brush Cut". He has a proficiency with firearms, jujitsu, and is unfailingly polite. He seldom (if ever) resorts to disguises - he seldom seeks to disguise his presence in a particular theatre of intrigue; which may be good thing, considering his rather unique appearance. He is never the main protagonist of the story - rather he appears at strategic points in the story, a catalyst for action. "Moto", by the way, is not a proper Japanese surname. source

As the Wikipedia entry to Mr. Moto notes, in the film Mr. Moto's Last Warning a list describing Mr. Moto can be seen:

• Age 35-40
• Jiu-jutsu and Judo expert
• Uses various disguises
• International police
• Adept at stage illusion/magic
• Usually works alone
• Able to walk silently
• Known to use doubles

Throughout the films other abilities have been noted:

• Ventriloquism
• Able to speak at least four languages (English, Mandarin, German, and Japanese)
• Devout Buddhist who knows traditional chants and religious rites
• Composes haiku
• Draws caricatures
• Plays the shamisen (traditionally used to accompany kabuki theater or puppet plays)
• Knows how to cure a hangover
source

As Joshua Davis notes in his article The Crypto-Currency: Bitcoin and its mysterious inventor:

The text, hidden amid a jumble of code, was a sort of digital battle cry. It also indicated that Nakamoto read a British newspaper. He used British spelling (“favour,” “colour,” “grey,” “modernised”) and at one point described something as being “bloody hard.” An apartment was a “flat,” math was “maths,” and his comments tended to appear after normal business hours ended in the United Kingdom. In an initial post announcing bitcoin, he employed American-style spelling. But after that a British style appeared to flow naturally.

Similarly, Penenberg notes:

I wondered if the British spellings and the headline inserted into Bitcoin’s code were red herrings, placed there to throw pursuers off the scent. Wasn’t Nakamoto’s first post written with American spellings? It wouldn’t take much for someone as bright as Nakamoto to create a modest disinformation campaign.

It is worth considering that the email address provided in the white paper is a German host (satoshin@gmx.com), his written English is eloquent and his name essentially claims Japanese descent.

There are more alternatives, but I chose these three as the most likely to spur the curiosity of the reader.

Each individual must weigh the possibility suggested by the above considerations for themselves and come to their own conclusion.

If "Satoshi Nakamoto" is indeed the first clue to a greater puzzle, its function could be to merely alert us to the fact that there is a puzzle to be solved. So where do we go from here (if anywhere)?

Possible avenues for further inquiry (and yes, I provide these freely with the sole request that if you are the one to discover the key, you think kindly of me when opening the vault):

• Ciphers or codes incorporated into the coding of bitcoin itself? (Variant 1 & 2)
• Ciphers or codes in the Bitcoin white paper? (Variant 2 & 3)
• A clue of some sort in the media (films, radiocasts, books etc.) treating Mr. Moto? (Variant 3)
• A clue to be found in the (available) writings of Satoshi?
• Ciphers or codes embedded in the transaction history preserved in the blockchain?

With a speculative hypothesis of this sort, we can only hope for a form of confirmation or refutation from the party or parties behind the mysterious moniker "Satoshi Nakamoto". Confirmation or denial would need to be provided in a manner that is capable of being ascertained as authentic, which is difficult, but if Satoshi Nakamoto is out there, I am sure he can find a way.

If you found this contribution entertaining, insightful or worth considering, please upvote, follow and resteem!

NOTE: This article is not associated with the game Raiders of the Lost Bitcoin sponsored by btcx. or with the board game Raiders of the Lost Bitcoin.