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Comment by CPLX | Hacker News Reader

> What is the value of uncovering who Satoshi is?

Learning the identity of someone with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Bitcoin seems like the obvious one.

Why? Voyeurism? The government would surely be interested in absconding with the assets at some point, but that is their function. What is our interest in such things? Sure, whoever it is might flood the market, but that could happen whether or not we know the identity.

OK, but what about the opposite: what is the value of pretending to be rich when you are not? I mean, sure you can probably get a free pizza slice here and there, but what can you actually do?

You don't think that if everyone believed you were Bill Gates, you wouldn't benefit from that?

I'm not certain but I believe the last time Wright was suspected of being Satoshi, he had some business venture he was trying to promote. Could be a repeat of last time.

A lot. If you convince the right people, then there's loans with easy terms. Funding for your companies. Entrance into some very useful networks. The list could go on and on.

Pretending to wealth is a con probably as old as money itself. Just imagine: you convince a lot of people that you're a billionaire who's lost your wallet. What can you get out of those people just by the promise you're good for it?

It's not about the money. It's about the fame - having you're name in stone for a very very long time. Some people see success as having their names printed in textbooks and in history books.

Check out this classic movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046072/

Love this movie :-)

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