Blockstream CEO Adam Back Dismisses Satoshi Claims at LONGITUDE; Industry Leaders Debate Crypto Regulation Framework

Adam Back Addresses Persistent Satoshi Nakamoto Speculation

At the latest LONGITUDE conference in Paris, co-hosted by cryptocurrency exchange OKX, Blockstream CEO and renowned cryptographer Adam Back characterized widespread speculation about his identity as Bitcoin's creator as "flattering," while reiterating his denial of the claim that resurfaced following a New York Times article published on April 8.

Back attributed the persistent theory to his active participation in early cypherpunk discussions. "The problem for me is I was very talkative on the mailing list," he explained during a fireside chat with Cointelegraph, referencing the 1992 Cryptography Mailing List where Satoshi Nakamoto later unveiled the Bitcoin white paper in October 2008. "So anytime anyone was talking about electronic cash, I was right there, I was the reply guy with something to say about it," Back said.

MiCA Regulation Praised Yet Criticized for Innovation Constraints

OKX Europe CEO Erald Ghoos addressed the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework during an onstage interview, highlighting its positive impact on industry legitimacy. Following the platform's full compliance certification in January 2025, Ghoos stated that "MiCA is extremely beneficial for the industry."

However, Ghoos raised concerns about potential drawbacks. "Right now, because there is such a big and heavy regulatory overhead for startups, I do fear even more that the innovation and the great entrepreneurship that we have in Europe will start to shift to other jurisdictions around the world," he warned.

Global Regulatory Fragmentation Remains Industry Challenge

CertiK CEO Ronghui Gu highlighted the absence of unified international standards as a significant obstacle. "For developers, for crypto companies in different regions, they are still under different compliance frameworks," Gu noted.

Regarding the proposed US CLARITY Act, which has faced delays due to unresolved issues concerning stablecoin yields and banking system implications, Gu acknowledged progress while emphasizing ongoing ambiguities. "Many terms are not that clear to be honest, and a little bit vague," he said, adding that the legislation would create a more favorable environment for crypto enterprises and developers.

Cardano Foundation CEO Frederik Gregaard expressed optimism about the CLARITY Act's passage, projecting substantial growth upon approval. "When this passes, from the non-TradFi adoption, you are going to see 100X," Gregaard stated, suggesting traditional industries have awaited regulatory clarity before integrating blockchain technology.

Stablecoins Position Themselves as Payment Solution

During a dedicated panel discussion, Mastercard's senior vice president for blockchain and digital assets, Christian Rau, endorsed stablecoins for transaction purposes. "They don't come with the volatility of other digital assets, given that they enjoy regulatory clarity in a lot of the world," Rau explained.

Rau criticized existing payment infrastructure inefficiencies, noting that the traditional sector "does a good job of almost faking real-time payments." He emphasized that current systems involve authorization, clearing, and settlement phases that introduce delays and expenses.

Stella Development Foundation chief business officer Raja Chakravorti reported approximately $317 billion in stablecoin circulation, representing roughly 50% growth year-over-year. He identified local stablecoins and resolving the "last mile" challenge—converting digital assets into functional elements within domestic financial systems—as critical priorities for mainstream adoption.