Judge Rules That Craig Wright Lied About Inventing Bitcoin
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 231-page judgment, Justice James Mellor stated that Wright "lied to the court repeatedly" and engaged in large-scale forgery in a failed attempt to prove he was Nakamoto.
The civil trial was brought by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) to prevent Wright from claiming he invented Bitcoin.
Mellor wrote that Wright presented fake documents and gave false testimony in support of 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 described 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 judgment, Wright has 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.
Overall, the judge's 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.