US magazine defends story on alleged Bitcoin maker

US magazine, Newsweek, has reportedly defended its cover story about the alleged Bitcoin creator amid heavy criticism for overlooking journalistic ethics and morals.

The story by reporter Leah McGrath Goodman strongly claimed that a man who went by the name Dorian Nakamoto was in fact Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious developer of the crypto-currency.

According to The Verge, Newsweek's strong support to Goodman and her article have received sharp refutation from Nakamoto, who said that his original words were misinterpreted and that he had not even heard of Bitcoin until he was contacted for the article.

As reporters are still trying to get their share of Nakamoto's words, the Bitcoin community has offered distressed Nakamoto about 18 bitcoins (over 11,000 dollars), as a token of thanks, if he is the real creator or as an apology gift if he is simply someone who shares the same name as the alleged creator.

Separately, a group is debating the merits of sending Dorian Nakamoto model trains, listed as one of his hobbies in the Newsweek article.

Goodman's article has been touted to be based largely on circumstantial evidence and parallels drawn about Nakamoto's political beliefs, alleged computer engineering prowess, periods of unemployment and ill health, and linguistic quirks.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is now corroborating the conversation between Goodman and Nakamoto described in Newsweek, the report added.