LONDON: Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright on Monday revealed himself as the creator of the virtual Bitcoin currency to media outlets the BBC, The Economist and GQ magazine.
After years of speculation on the identity of the crypto-currency's founder, Wright presented proof that only the true creator of Bitcoin could have provided, the BBC said.
He digitally signed messages using encryption keys that were created in the days following Bitcoin's 2009 launch.
These keys had to be created by Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonym used at the time by the currency's creator, the broadcaster said.
Bitcoin is a virtual currency that is created from computer code. Unlike a real-world currency such as the US dollar or the euro, it has no central bank and is not backed by any government.
Instead, its community of users control and regulate it.
Just like other currencies, Bitcoins can be exchanged for goods and services -- or for other currencies -- provided the other party is willing to accept them.
According to The Economist, Wright is a 45-year-old computer scientist and inventor.
"Our conclusion is that Mr Wright could well be Mr Nakamoto, but that important questions remain," the British news weekly said.
"Indeed, it may never be possible to establish beyond reasonable doubt who really created Bitcoin."
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