LONDON (AP) — An Australian man long rumored to be associated with the digital currency Bitcoin has publicly identified himself as its creator, a claim that would end one of the biggest mysteries in the tech world.

BBC News said Monday that Craig Wright told the media outlet he is the man previously known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto.

The computer scientist, inventor and academic said he launched the currency in 2009 with the help of others.

Wright made similar claims to the Economist magazine, which said on its website it still has “nagging” questions about Wright’s claim. He also asserted his role in a lengthy blog post.

The founder’s identity has been shrouded in uncertainty, and the media’s inability to pinpoint the person responsible has led to a series of investigations.

Last year, some reports claimed Wright was the founder and had used a false name to mask his identity.

Wright told the BBC he had decided to make his identity known to stop the spread of “misinformation” about Bitcoin.

“I didn’t take the decision lightly to make my identity public and I want to be clear that I’m doing this because I care so passionately about my work and also to dispel any negative myths and fears,” he said.

Wright said he believes that Bitcoin and blockchain, the technical innovation that makes the currency possible, “can change the world for the better.”

He added that he would now be able to release his research and academic work to help people understand the potential of Bitcoin.

Bitcoin is designed for secure financial transactions that require no central authority – no banks, no government regulators.

That makes it attractive to off-the-grid types such as libertarians, people who want to evade tax authorities, and criminals.