Craig Wright, the fake creator of Bitcoin ($BTC) and a figure perennially drenched in crypto controversy, is going to prison. 2024 continues to surprise.
The UK High Court delivered a 12-month suspended jail sentence after finding Wright guilty of contempt for defying an earlier court mandate. This latest stunt involves his attempt to sue for intellectual property rights tied to Bitcoin.
Who is Craig Wright? The Fake Satoshi Nakamoto
For years, Wright, an Australian computer scientist, has claimed to be the inventor of Bitcoin with no proof and was discovered to have a very poor understanding of not just Bitcoin but programming in general. Despite widespread agreement that he was not even remotely involved in the creation of Bitcoin, he drew a cult following and began suing anyone working on Bitcoin for “infringing on his copyright.”
Wright developed Bitcoin Satoshi’s Vision ($BSV), which he called the “true Bitcoin.”
The Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), a group dead-set on stopping crypto patent abuse, has slammed Craig Wright for what they call a “desperate publicity stunt.” The $1.1 trillion lawsuit, where Wright claims rights to Bitcoin itself, apparently crossed a line—violating a previous ruling from July. Judge James Mellor agreed, backing COPA’s stance against what they see as Wright’s legal grandstanding.
“When it comes to the grounds of contempt, I have found each of them proved beyond reasonable doubt,” Judge Mellor declared during the ruling.
Craig Wright wanted to FOMO Satoshi into revealing his identity, but the real creator of Bitcoin never fell for it. The gains spoke for themselves. Now Craig is going to rot in prison.
The real Satoshi will probably reveal his identity on his deathbed.
The Legal Proceedings
Wright attended his sentencing virtually from an undisclosed location in Asia. Despite the ruling, Wright vowed to appeal. When pressed during the hearing, he refused to reveal his exact whereabouts.
Judge Mellor, who previously declared that Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto, cited the defendant’s repeated attempts to circumvent the legal system.
“Dr. Wright is perfectly capable, once the dust has settled, of ramping up his public pronouncements again,” Mellor remarked in a scathing critique of Wright’s behavior.
Craig "Faketoshi" Wright failed to show up for his contempt of court hearing today. Why? He claims he's too poor to afford the flight.
Quite a fall from 6 years ago when he claimed to have more money than Rwanda! pic.twitter.com/2l5r9uFCc6
— Jameson Lopp (@lopp) December 18, 2024
This court decision marks a significant victory for COPA and the crypto industry at large. Wright has frequently targeted the Bitcoin community with lawsuits, encompassing libel claims, disputes over the Bitcoin whitepaper, and more. Jonathan Hough, COPA’s legal representative, characterized Wright’s tactics as an attempt to mislead and manipulate.
“This was a desperate publicity stunt to keep his cultish supporters engaged,” Hough stated in court.
Crypto Moves Forward
The Craig Wright contempt case exemplifies the resolve of the crypto community to safeguard its foundations.
This ruling serves as a sharp wake-up call—ditch the noise, stick to the work, and aim for a future built on actual progress. Crypto has no patience for circus acts, only for those ready to push its limits.
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