Reflections on Satoshi with Adam Back and Pete Rizzo

May 4, 2021

This week for the Bitcoin Magazine Podcast we have a replay of last week's interview between Adam Back and Pete Rizzo on Satoshi's legacy. Adam Back the co founder and CEO of Blockstream and the investor of Proof of Work.

Adam reflects on discovering Bitcoin and searching for the best information in the early days. He worked hard to understand the technical components as well as all of Satoshi's writing about Bitcoin.

Adam is not a fan or over glorifying Satoshi or quoting Satoshi quotes. Adam thinks it is important for individuals to learn from Satoshi's thinking but to define Bitcoin based on the product and network itself.

Dr. Back and Rizzo reflect on the difference between the stated intent of the bitcoin project, what is actually being built, and how Satoshi contributed to that ethos. Enjoy this wide ranging conversation on Satoshi's Authority, Influence, and legacy. 

Topics: 

1. How did Adam start to try and understand what Bitcoin was? 
2. Do you think there’s any value in understanding what Satoshi thought about Bitcoin? 
3. There’s an aversion in the Bitcoin development community about speaking about Satoshi. Can you talk about where that comes from? 
4. Under Satoshi, Bitcoin had a very different development model.
5. Bitcoin Core is today more of a meritocracy. Why does Bitcoin need a meritocracy? 
6. Satoshi has been gone for 10 years. Is Satoshi Nakamoto still influential in Bitcoin today? 
7. It’s been said nobody understands Bitcoin. Was it possible for Satoshi to understand Bitcoin? 
8. What do you think was the biggest mistake that Satoshi Nakamoto made in building Bitcoin?
9. Was it necessary to remove Satoshi ?
10. Where does Satoshi Nakamoto rank in terms of the biggest intellectual contributors to Bitcoin? 
11. Why do you think Satoshi hasn’t moved his Bitcoin?