This is something I think about time to time. Without a doubt, one of the key aspects of BTC almost everyone who is into BTC agrees on is the fact there is no figurehead at the helm. Satoshi Nakamoto, whoever this was, walked away (so the story goes) leaving BTC here.

But what would happen to BTC if Satoshi was to come back. Mostly this question is to the BTC fiat price/adoption, assuming this happens in the next 10-20 years. Since from a tech POV it is unlikely to have that much of an affect as you'd still need to get the miners to agree to changes, etc etc.

Think about this in three scenarios;

A). Satoshi Nakamoto simply "returns", with unequivocal proof (whatever that may be) that said person is indeed the Satoshi. This entity turns out to be someone totally unassuming, never guess, a total edge case. While this entity would have little technical say to change anything directly, they would become a figurehead for BTC, especially in the media. Also their vision could be communicated more clearly and in more detail, given the endless interviews that would happen.

B). The Satoshi turns out to be someone in the current crypto space, be it a maxi, head, dev, etc etc. Maybe one of the people that have been guessed. Maybe someone else. Worst yet Satoshi ends up being one of the loathed from the space, (i.e. CW, etc) and that tarnishes BTC somehow(?).

C). The coins from the Satoshi wallet suddenly start to move. Now this wallet is HEAVILY watched and it won't take long to determine where the coins are going and then likely who, the later may take more time but eventually will be deduced. It will also be clear if the wallet has somehow been compromised and the entity moving the coins is a "hacker" or some such thing (I hate that term). Maybe C happens for then A or B... or maybe C is part of the 'proof" of A or B... but the wallet is open again.

I mean, we never know until we know for sure who Satoshi was/is. It is part of the BTC I find fascinating but many have played up "Satoshi's gift" as a key tenet of BTC, so if Satoshi was to return, Now what?