The full email correspondence between Hashcash inventor Adam Back and Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto is now public after being entered into official UK court records this week.
Detailed in the five emails below is the full conversation between Nakamoto and Buck, who was cited in the Bitcoin white paper. In the emails, the two crypto heavyweights can be seen for the first time discussing the work.
Although Buck has previously spoken publicly about the emails, hinting at details of the conversation and, in particular, how he neglected to read the white paper initially, the emails mark the first time the full text has been made available.
Adam Back, a popular figure in the cryptocurrency world and CEO of Blockstream, has long been believed to have been involved in the creation of Bitcoin, although these emails are likely to dampen those suspicions.
As detailed, the correspondence between the two was courteous and professional, with Buck directing Satoshi to some relevant papers, and Satoshi seeking to point out the unique contributions he had made to Buck's previous work.
Hashcash, invented by Buck in the 1990s, was a way to slow down spam, a method that forced the computer processor to prove that it had performed calculations before delivering the message. The system is a blueprint for the Bitcoin mining system, where a distributed network of computers compete to solve cryptographic puzzles and, in exchange for labor, release new Bitcoins into the economy.
Elsewhere, it is now clear that Satoshi tried to stay in touch with Buck, sending him an email in January 2009 regarding the release of the Bitcoin software.
Since their publication this week, the release of these emails has reignited interest around Satoshi Nakamoto's true identity, as it coincides with other new emails provided by Satoshi's early collaborators.
Although an interesting relic of history, these emails do little to shed light on Bitcoin's underlying secrets.
Email #1: Satoshi contacts Adam again
Email #2: Adam refers Satoshi to WeDie business
Email #3: Satoshi points out his unique contributions to Bitcoin
Email #4: Adam hasn't read the white paper yet
Email #5: Satoshi informed Adam about the launch of Bitcoin
