April 5 marks what many in the cryptocurrency world recognize as the birthday of Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic figure behind Bitcoin. Though his identity remains unknown, the date tied to Nakamoto’s P2P Foundation profile—April 5, 1975—has taken on symbolic weight among those who view Bitcoin as more than just a financial asset.
The choice of birth date appears far from arbitrary. For monetary freedom advocates, April 5 is a date etched in history. It was on April 5, 1933, that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 6102, forcing Americans to surrender their gold holdings to the Federal Reserve. The move, intended to combat the Great Depression, effectively outlawed private gold ownership, a restriction that lasted until December 31, 1974, when the U.S. Congress reversed course. So, when Nakamoto selected April 5, 1975, as his birth date, it seemed to represent more than coincidence—it looked like a deliberate nod to the restoration of individual monetary rights.
Satoshi Nakamoto’s presence in the world of technology was brief but seismic. In 2008, he introduced the Bitcoin white paper titled Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System, laying out a vision for decentralized money built on blockchain technology. By solving the long-standing double-spending problem, Nakamoto created the first viable form of digital currency independent of any central authority.
Despite his disappearance, Nakamoto’s presence is still felt in tangible ways. Wallets believed to be associated with him—containing an estimated 600,000 to 1.1 million bitcoins—remain untouched. The fact that these assets, now worth billions, have never been moved adds to the mystique. It suggests that the person or group behind Bitcoin may have had principles stronger than profit, walking away from untold wealth and public recognition.
The legacy left behind is not just technological, but cultural. Each year, members of the Bitcoin community mark April 5 as a moment to reflect on what Nakamoto created and what it represents. Whether or not the date reflects his actual birthday, it has become a celebration of resistance to centralized control over money and a tribute to the radical shift that Bitcoin introduced.
Over the years, the mythology around Satoshi Nakamoto has only deepened. Speculations about his identity abound, ranging from academic theories to wild conspiracy claims. None, however, have provided definitive proof. What remains is a silent figure who sparked a movement and then vanished, leaving behind a trail of code, a manifesto, and a decentralized system that continues to challenge traditional finance.
April 5, then, is more than a date—it’s a symbol. It connects the past’s loss of financial freedom with a future that promises autonomy. Whether Satoshi Nakamoto was a person, a group, or an idea, the choice of birthday tells us everything we need to know: this was never just about technology—it was about reclaiming control.
By Alejandro Silva Ramírez, Crypto Analyst & Columnist