Who is Wei Dai?
Wei Dai is a computer engineer known for contributions to cryptography and cryptocurrencies. He developed the Crypto++ library, created the b-money system, and co-proposed the VMAC algorithm.
Questions about Wei Dai
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What did Wei Dai create in 1998?
In 1998, Wei Dai published a paper titled 'b-money, an anonymous, distributed electronic cash system.' The paper described a scheme for untraceable digital pseudonyms to pay each other and enforce contracts without outside help.
When did Wei Dai release the Crypto++ library?
Wei Dai originally wrote and released Crypto++, an open-source C++ cryptography library, in 1995. He stepped away from the project in June 2015, and the Crypto++ community has maintained it since.
How is Wei Dai connected to Bitcoin and Satoshi Nakamoto?
Wei Dai and cryptographer Adam Back were the first two people Satoshi Nakamoto contacted directly while developing Bitcoin in 2008. Nakamoto's Bitcoin whitepaper also cites Dai's b-money paper directly.
What is VMAC and who co-created it with Wei Dai?
VMAC is a block cipher-based message authentication code that uses a universal hash. It was co-proposed by cryptographer Ted Krovetz and Wei Dai in April 2007, designed for high performance backed by formal analysis.
Has Wei Dai been suspected of being Satoshi Nakamoto?
Yes, speculation about Satoshi Nakamoto's real identity has named Wei Dai alongside Nick Szabo and Hal Finney. All three have denied being Nakamoto.