Tucker Carlson has asserted that Bitcoin (BTC) is a creation of the CIA, expressing skepticism regarding its founder, Satoshi Nakamoto, which fuels his distrust in the cryptocurrency.

At a Turning Point USA event on October 22, Carlson declared that he would refrain from investing in Bitcoin due to his belief it was designed for societal control by financial elites.

Bitcoin’s “CIA Origins” Theory Boosted

In his speech, Carlson embraced the concept of financial autonomy that Bitcoin embodies, but insisted that the reality is disillusioning, labeling cryptocurrency a “scam” manipulated by a “coalition of beneficiaries” for societal control.

“I’m really afraid of a digital currency because that is totalitarian control,” he stated. “If you can punish people, if you can zero out their bank account and keep them from eating, you will have total obedience.”

Carlson, a gold investor, expressed skepticism about an asset worth a trillion dollars having an anonymous creator, questioning the mystery surrounding Satoshi and the unmovable million BTC attributed to them.

“Nobody can explain to me who Satoshi was, the creator of Bitcoin, this mysterious guy who apparently died,” Carlson remarked. “I grew up in DC, primarily in a government family, so, CIA,” he added.

While the notion that a government agency may have established Bitcoin is not new, Carlson’s comments have rekindled interest. The idea gained traction in 2020 when The Washington Post disclosed the CIA’s ownership of Crypto AG, a Swiss encryption firm, which monitored over 120 countries by selling compromised devices.

Within hours following Carlson’s remarks, supporters of Bitcoin criticized his claims on X. Strike CEO Jack Mallers responded:

“If you think knowing who created Bitcoin matters, you don’t understand it. Bitcoin is open source. Nobody has special rights, and everyone can verify that.”

Broadcaster Max Keiser also rejected the CIA theory, asserting it conflicts with Bitcoin’s documented history. Others made light of Carlson’s mistrust, with Marty Bent from the Tales from the Crypt podcast commenting:

“Even if the CIA did create Bitcoin (it didn’t), anyone can audit the code to see what it does. That’s all that matters.”

Some, however, resonated with Carlson’s broader concerns regarding governmental power. Mert Mumtaz, CEO of Helius Labs, while dismissing the CIA theory, acknowledged the validity of Carlson’s fear of financial surveillance. He warned that poorly designed crypto could be weaponized for harm.

The Ongoing Puzzle of Satoshi Nakamoto

The quest for Satoshi has transformed into a global mystery after the identity of the person, or people, behind the pseudonym vanished from sight in 2011.

Recently, an HBO documentary hinted that late cryptographer Len Sassaman could be Satoshi. However, claims pointing to Peter Todd as Satoshi were strongly refuted by the former Bitcoin developer. Meanwhile, a UK judge ruled that Craig Wright, who claimed to be Satoshi, was not the creator of BTC.

Despite these challenges, the hunt for Satoshi remains alive, with figures like crypto attorney James Murphy pursuing legal avenues to uncover possible records about Satoshi’s identity.