Computer Scientist Accused of Falsely Claiming to Be Bitcoin Creator ‘Satoshi Nakamoto’ Referred to Child Protective Services
An individual from Australia, a computer scientist, has been reported to UK prosecutors for suspected perjury after falsely asserting to have created Bitcoin. The High Court in London determined that Dr. Craig Wright had provided numerous false statements to bolster his assertion that he was the renowned “Satoshi Nakamoto,” the presumed creator of the digital currency.
Dr. Wright was taken to court by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (Copa), a nonprofit organization comprising cryptocurrency companies, to prevent him from suing Bitcoin developers. In a ruling made by Judge James Mellor in March following a five-week civil trial, it was established that the evidence against Dr. Wright being Satoshi was overwhelming. The group contended that he engaged in significant forgery to maintain a deceitful claim.
The judge, in a written decision, disclosed that he was passing the case on to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for potential prosecution related to perjury and forgery. He stated that Dr. Wright’s actions in asserting false claims about being Satoshi through legal proceedings constituted a severe abuse of the court systems in the UK, Norway, and the USA. The judge emphasized the gravity of the situation, suggesting that the CPS should evaluate the possibility of initiating legal action against Dr. Wright for his extensive perjury and forgery activities.
Dr. Wright initially asserted his identity as Satoshi back in 2016. During the trial, where the primary focus was not just on the recognition of being the originator of the most popular virtual currency globally but also on claims regarding intellectual property, he refuted the accusations. He maintained that he was the writer of a seminal 2008 white paper, the foundational document of Bitcoin, which was released under a pseudonym.
The legal battle surrounding Dr. Wright’s false claims has brought significant attention to the credibility and integrity within the cryptocurrency community. The outcome of the referral to the CPS will likely have far-reaching implications for both Dr. Wright and the broader landscape of digital currencies.
