Home of Suspected Bitcoin ‘Founder’ Raided by Australian Police

Australian police raided the home and office of the Australian tech entrepreneur identified by two U.S. publications as the alleged creator of the digital currency bitcoin.

Craig Wright’s Sydney home was entered by police on Wednesday afternoon, hours after Wired and Gizmodo outed him as Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous figure that first released bitcoin’s code in 2009. Their investigations were based on leaked interviews and transcripts.

The Australian Federal police says that the raids were not related to the bitcoin claims, reports the Guardian. “The AFP can confirm it has conducted search warrants to assist the Australian Taxation Office at a residence in Gordon and a business premises in Ryde, Sydney. This matter is unrelated to recent media reporting regarding the digital currency bitcoin.”

According to the Guardian, other people who say they know the 44-year-old Australian expressed strong doubts about his alleged role. They believe the publications have been victims of an elaborate hoax.

The identity of Nakamoto has long been a mystery, the figure’s digital crypto-currency has been used for international money transfers to online drug trafficking.