The story of the hacker who claims to have compromised an email account belonging to Satoshi Nakamoto just got a little stranger.

News that Nakamoto’s original accounts on GMX.com were compromised ignited community interest in both the identity and whereabouts of the bitcoin creator this weekend. It was then that an email sent to a Bitcoin Talk administrator indicated that an unidentified party had taken over the accounts and threatened to release sensitive information.

There now appears to be at least two individuals in control of the email account – one of which may be Nakamoto, VICE reported today. According to information provided by one of the people involved in the situation, both parties, including Nakamoto, are engaged in ongoing negotiations.

The publication was contacted by two separate persons, one of whom claimed that he had infiltrated the account for fun. This individual said that previous statements regarding how the bitcoin creator’s identity would be publicly revealed were false. After communication between the individual and VICE ended, the publication received additional information that suggested multiple parties were using the email.

VICE continued:

“After our conversation petered off with the first individual who had access to Nakamoto’s account, Motherboard was quickly contacted again from Nakamoto’s old email account […] This person told us that the first individual we were speaking to was in fact Satoshi Nakamoto.”

Hacker motives revealed

The second individual, who during conversation with VICE went by the online alias Degavas1337, said that the email account’s contents had enabled him to establish Nakamoto’s true identity and make contact.

The person also shed light onto the motives behind the attack, with the hacker explaining that he or she was motivated by both personal amusement and a desire to make bitcoins.

VICE Canada managing editor Patrick McGuire wrote:

“When I asked why Degavas1337 was targeting Nakamoto, he told me ‘Because I can.’ After inquiring what he was trying to get out of all this, he said ‘Bitcoins, obviously… [But] don’t forget the lulz.’ […] When I asked if he was currently blackmailing Nakamoto, he refused to answer.”

The hacker added that, for now, the information about Nakamoto’s identity will remain private. He or she said that they had originally planned to steal the stash of bitcoins owned by Nakamoto, but opted to use any information against the bitcoin creator for personal gain instead.

Image via Shutterstock

Hat tip to VICE