Bitcoin Fraudster Faced Judgment for Disregarding Court Orders
Australian "computer expert" Craig Wright, who asserted he was the inventor of bitcoin, was given a 1-year prison sentence, suspensed for 2 years, due to being found in contempt of court. This contempt charge stemmed from Wright filing a £911 billion lawsuit against Bitcoin Core developers and Square Up Europe Limited, which breached a March 2024 court order.
The Crypto Open Patent Alliance, with Jonathan Hough KC of Bird & Bird LLP as their representative, initiated the contempt proceedings against Wright. This alliance, backed by major players like Coinbase, Kraken, and MicroStrategy, aims to protect open-source technologies and hinder restrictive patent practices.
The case originated from accusations that Wright disregarded a court order prohibiting him from making legal claims based on his supposed identity as Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of bitcoin. A UK High Court ruled in March 2024 that Mr. Justice Mellor found "overpowering proof" that Wright was not Satoshi Nakamoto. The court concluded that Wright had deceived and forged documents extensively to back his claims, preventing him from bringing more legal actions tied to his alleged identity as Satoshi Nakamoto.
Judge Mellor criticized Wright's conduct, stating that he had "extensively and repeatedly" lied and forged documents "on a grand scale." The judge emphasized that Wright's actions were a misuse of the court system, intended to deceive and manipulate lawsuits to his advantage.
Only half a year after the injunction, Wright initiated a fresh lawsuit against 26 defendants, with the list later growing to over 100 global companies. COPA described Wright's behavior as part of an ongoing harassment campaign and a "distortion of reality." Judge Mellor ruled that the trial would proceed in Wright's absence after he failed to appear, citing questionable reasons.
"Dr. Wright is absent despite knowing about the hearing," said Hough at the proceedings' beginning. "In any other case, this would be extortionate, but, in this case, expected."
Wright opted to represent himself and argued that travel costs made attending the hearings impossible. COPA offered to cover his expenses, including flights, but he declined. He mentioned that attending court would result in £240,000 in lost business revenue. He also wrote in an email that, even if the financial loss was covered, he would not attend the hearing. Hough highlighted Wright's well-documented wealth and deemed his claims implausible.
Wright appeared via video link for the sentencing, but refused to disclose his location when questioned by Judge Mellor. Mellor asked, "So you're not even prepared to reveal which country you're in?" Wright responded, "I'm in Asia." Mellor sharply retorted, "Asia isn't a country."
The judge dismissed Wright's autism spectrum disorder and personal safety concerns, pointing out that he had participated in various legal proceedings without raising similar issues in the past.
In his conclusion, Judge Mellor stated, “I have found, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Dr. Wright committed each of the contempts alleged by COPA in their Grounds 1 to 5 inclusive. In fact, in my judgment, there is no doubt whatsoever that each of these contempts has been proven.”
Hough argued that Wright’s actions were premeditated and vexatious, accusing him of revisiting settled matters and using the court system to silence critics. He described Wright’s actions as a "desperate publicity stunt" to maintain his "cult-like followers' interest." Judge Mellor emphasized Wright’s lack of remorse and the deliberate nature of his actions.
The court concluded that Wright’s contempt was so severe that only imprisonment would be appropriate. Wright was also ordered to pay £144,000 in legal costs within 14 days.
Considering Wright's history of legal disputes and controversies, this judgment might not mark the end of his court battles. However, it could potentially limit the damage he can cause moving forward.
- Despite the UK High Court ruling in March 2024 that declared Craig Wright not to be Satoshi Nakamoto, he initiated a new lawsuit against over 100 global companies, sparking criticism from the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA).
- The Crypto Open Patent Alliance, composed of major fintech companies like Coinbase, Kraken, and MicroStrategy, accused Wright of participating in an ongoing harassment campaign and a "distortion of reality" through his legal battles.
- The lawsuit filed by Wright against Bitcoin Core developers and Square Up Europe Limited was found to breach a March 2024 court order, leading to the contempt charge that landed him a suspended prison sentence of 1 year.
- The patent litigation surrounding Wright's alleged identity as Satoshi Nakamoto resulted in the UK High Court ruling that Wright had extensively deceived and forged documents to support his claims.
- The long-standing satoshi nakamoto identity dispute and similar legal battles faced by Craig Wright have led to speculation about the potential impact of future court judgments on his involvement in cryptocurrency and fintech.
