Adam back denies Satoshi as MiCA debate grows

Adam Back said it is “flattering” that some believe he is Satoshi Nakamoto, but denied being behind Bitcoin during a discussion at the LONGITUDE event in Paris.

Back said speculation stems from his early activity on cryptography mailing lists, where he frequently discussed digital cash concepts before Bitcoin’s launch.

“It is flattering in some sense that they think you could have done it,”

Back said, adding that his visibility in early cypherpunk discussions likely fuelled the theory.

The event, co-hosted by OKX, also featured industry leaders debating the impact of regulation on crypto markets and innovation.

Erald Ghoos said Europe’s MiCA framework is “extremely beneficial” for legitimising the sector, though he warned heavy compliance burdens could push innovation to other regions.

Speakers including Ronghui Gu highlighted ongoing challenges from fragmented global regulation, while others pointed to growing momentum behind US legislation such as the CLARITY Act.

Participants also emphasised the expanding role of stablecoins in payments, with executives noting their potential to improve settlement efficiency despite ongoing hurdles in integrating digital assets into local financial systems.

At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $77,998.92.