Cryptographic Proof Outweighs Stylometry in MicroStrategy's Bitcoin Bet
RW
Riley Wilde
Michael Saylor · Apr 8, 2026
Source: DojiDoji Data Terminal
Bitcoin dipped 2.4% from $68,269 to $66,634 after the New York Times published an investigation identifying Adam Back as Satoshi Nakamoto. The claim was based on stylometric analysis led by computational linguist Florian Cafiero, who found Back as the closest match among 12 suspects, though the results were described as inconclusive.
MicroStrategy holds 766,970 BTC acquired for roughly $54.57 billion. The company's position depends on Bitcoin functioning as a decentralized, leaderless monetary network.
Executive Chairman Michael Saylor rejected the investigation. He pointed to contemporaneous 2008 emails between Satoshi and Back, in which Satoshi contacted Back in August 2008 to confirm a citation of Hashcash in the upcoming white paper.
"Stylometry is interesting, but not proof," Saylor said. "The contemporaneous emails between Satoshi and Adam Back suggest they were distinct individuals. Until someone signs with Satoshi’s keys, every theory is just narrative."
Michael Saylorcrypto IRS ruling
The Ledger Morning
The essential intelligence to start your trading day. Delivered 6:00 AM EST.
Join 50,000+ professionals who start their day with The Digital Ledger.