UK Judge: Craig Wright lied “extensively and repeatedly” about creating Bitcoin

As an experienced financial analyst following the cryptocurrency industry closely, I find this High Court ruling against Craig Wright, who claimed to be Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, a significant development. The judge’s unequivocal statements that Wright lied and committed forgery during the trial are disheartening but unsurprising given the long-standing controversy surrounding his claims.


As a crypto investor following the latest developments, I’ve learned that a U.K. High Court judge recently made a ruling against an American computer scientist named Craig Wright. The judge found that Wright not only falsified information but also committed forgery during his trial proceedings.

In a recent court decision made public on Monday, Justice James Mellor determined that Wright had perjured himself during the six-week COPA v Wright trial. The defendant, Wright, had claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the Bitcoin creator. However, Mellor found that Wright had presented falsified documents to support his false assertions.

“Dr. Wright’s actions are indisputable: he deliberately fabricated false documents to back up untrue statements, using the courts as an instrument for deceit. I am fully convinced that Dr. Wright repeatedly and extensively lied to the court. All of his lies and forged documents served one purpose: to bolster his largest falsehood – his claim to be Satoshi Nakamoto.”

In March, Mellor determined that Wright did not write Bitcoin’s seminal document, the “white paper,” and was not Nakamoto. Mellor added, “In my opinion, Wright overestimates his own intelligence significantly.”

The legal battle with COPA

As an analyst, I’ve observed that over the decades, Craig Wright has made headlines with his assertion of being Bitcoin’s inventor. This declaration, however, has sparked doubt and debate, resulting in a lawsuit filed against him by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) in 2021. The trial commenced on February 5, with COPA bringing accusations of forgery and later perjury against Wright.

Wright has not publicly responded to Mellor’s statements but posted on X, stating, “I fully intend to appeal the decision of the court on the matter of the identity issue.” 

Ruling implications

The court decision carries substantial weight for the cryptocurrency sector. It underscores Bitcoin’s inherent decentralization and leaderless nature, preventing any individual from laying claim to its genesis. This long-standing controversy surrounding the identification of Satoshi Nakamoto is now put to rest by this judgment.

The consequences of Wright’s perjury for the legal proceedings are yet to unfold, but in March, over $7.6 million of his assets were seized to prevent him from transferring them overseas and escaping responsibility for covering the case expenses.

In an attempt to resolve the dispute with COPA amicably without going to court, Wright made overtures in January; however, COPA chose not to oblige.

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2024-05-20 21:52