20 May 2024
A UK judge has ruled that Craig Wright, who claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, lied extensively and forged documents during a high-profile trial.
In a scathing 231-page judgment, Justice James Mellor stated that Wright “lied to the court repeatedly” and committed forgery “on a grand scale” in a failed attempt to prove he was Nakamoto.
A group of crypto firms brought the civil trial, the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), that sought to prevent Wright from claiming he invented Bitcoin.
BREAKING: 🇬🇧 Judge has just published his ruling in the COPA vs Craig Wright lawsuit that Craig is not Satoshi Nakamoto.
Massive victory for #Bitcoin 👏 pic.twitter.com/rCSewIhsA9
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 20, 2024
Mellor wrote that Wright presented fake documents and gave false testimony in support of “his biggest lie – his claim to be Satoshi Nakamoto.”
The judge determined Wright is neither the author of the Bitcoin white paper nor the person behind the Satoshi pseudonym from 2008-2011.
Furthermore, Mellor ruled Wright does not have copyright ownership that would enable him to sue Bitcoin developers, as he has done in the past.
The judge slammed Wright’s narrative as “riddled with inconsistencies and absurd explanations” and said Wright was “not nearly as clever as he thinks he is.”
COPA lawyers accused Wright of extensive deception and forgery throughout the trial. They also presented technical evidence exposing fake documents Wright justified with “fluent but ultimately unpersuasive answers.”
Following the damning judgment, Wright has already dropped several lawsuits premised on his being Nakamoto. However, Mellor’s ruling only prevents him from bringing new claims in the UK, not other jurisdictions.
The case has raised questions about Wright’s litigation funding source. Online gambling tycoon Calvin Ayre is rumored to be backing Wright financially, but both men deny this.
Overall, the judge’s unequivocal findings represent a major blow to Wright’s reputation and credibility. COPA hopes the judgment will discourage further legal action from Wright despite potential appeals.
For the Bitcoin community, it provides a major relief from his past claims and litigation threats.