A viral clip from the Jack Neel Podcast has reignited claims that Bitcoin was created by US intelligence agencies, drawing widespread attention across social media platforms.
The clip features Jiang Xueqin asserting that agencies such as DARPA, the NSA and the CIA developed Bitcoin as a surveillance and funding tool, despite providing no documentary evidence.
“When you do game theory analysis, you look at all possibilities, you end up with the deep state,”
Jiang said.
“You end up with the CIA.”
Jiang’s argument centres on Bitcoin’s transparent blockchain and the anonymity of its creator, suggesting these features align with intelligence objectives rather than decentralised ideals.
However, analysts and developers have pushed back, noting that Bitcoin’s open-source code and cypherpunk origins contradict claims of a centrally controlled surveillance system.
Critics also point to the publicly documented contributions of early figures such as Hal Finney and Wei Dai, whose work predates the network’s launch and supports its decentralised design.
The theory, which has circulated for years, has gained renewed traction due to Jiang’s growing online following, highlighting how viral content can amplify unverified narratives in crypto markets.
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $75,011.82.