A British judge has escalated the legal troubles of Craig Wright, the Australian computer scientist who claims to have invented Bitcoin under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Wright, who has long maintained his identity as the elusive Nakamoto, now faces potential criminal charges for perjury and forgery.
In a ruling delivered by Justice James Mellor of England’s High Court of Justice, the judge expressed no doubt in referring Wright to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider initiating criminal proceedings. “If what happened in this case does not warrant referral to the CPS, it is difficult to envisage a case which would,” Mellor stated, underscoring the gravity of Wright’s actions.
The Case Against Wright
The allegations against Wright emerged from a lawsuit initiated by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), a nonprofit group of technology and crypto companies. COPA aimed to disprove Wright’s claim to be Nakamoto and prevent him from asserting intellectual property rights over Bitcoin. During the trial, which stretched over five weeks, Wright was accused of committing “forgery on an industrial scale” and engaging in “a most serious abuse” of the judicial process in multiple countries, including the UK, Norway, and the USA.
Mellor concluded that Wright had “lied repeatedly and extensively” and had forged documents to support his false claims. These findings led Mellor to issue two significant injunctions: one preventing Wright from relitigating his claim to be Nakamoto in any jurisdiction, and another prohibiting him from threatening or filing lawsuits against developers based on his spurious assertions.
The Fallout and Wright’s Response
Wright’s exact whereabouts remain unclear, as the court noted that he has left his previous residence in Wimbledon and may be traveling internationally. This uncertainty has complicated the service of the court’s final order on him. COPA suggested that Wright might be evading service intentionally, a claim the court found plausible.
Despite the court’s rulings, Wright has indicated his intent to appeal the decision regarding his identity. In May, he took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his plans for an appeal.
Justice Mellor also mandated that Wright must publish details of the court’s ruling against him to “dispel residual uncertainty” about his false claims. Wright is required to post these details on his website, his profile on X, and his Slack channels.
Implications for the Bitcoin Community
The ruling represents a significant victory for open-source developers and the broader Bitcoin community. By invalidating Wright’s claims, the court has protected developers from potential litigation aimed at stifling innovation within the cryptocurrency space. Bitcoin, the world’s most prominent digital currency, operates independently of any bank or government, allowing users to transact anonymously. The court’s decision reinforces the community’s ability to continue developing and improving Bitcoin’s open-source technology without fear of unwarranted legal threats.
While the judge declined to issue additional orders that would further restrict Wright’s assertions of being Nakamoto or require him to delete previous statements, Mellor left open the possibility for COPA to seek further injunctive relief if necessary. The court’s measured approach aims to balance the need for protecting developers and the public against Wright’s false claims with the recognition that Wright’s assertions are likely to be seen as baseless by most informed observers.
As the legal saga continues, the Bitcoin community remains vigilant, knowing that the battle to maintain the integrity and openness of the technology is ongoing.
