Craig Wright, the fake creator of Bitcoin ($BTC) and a perennial figure in cryptocurrency controversies, will go to prison. 2024 continues to surprise.
The UK High Court handed down a 12-month suspended prison sentence after finding Wright guilty of contempt for defying an earlier court order. This latest stunt concerns his attempt to sue over intellectual property rights related to Bitcoin.
Who is Craig Wright? The fake Satoshi Nakamoto
For years, Wright, an Australian computer scientist, claimed to be the inventor of Bitcoin without any evidence and was found to have very little knowledge of not only Bitcoin but programming in general. Despite widespread belief that he wasn’t even remotely involved in the creation of Bitcoin, he gained a cult following and began suing anyone working on Bitcoin for “infringing his copyright.”
Wright developed Bitcoin Satoshi’s Vision ($BSV), which he called the “real Bitcoin.”
The Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), a group determined to stop the abuse of crypto patents, has criticized Craig Wright for what they call a “desperate publicity stunt.” The $1.1 trillion lawsuit, in which Wright claims rights to Bitcoin itself, has apparently crossed a line, violating an earlier ruling from July. Judge James Mellor agreed, upholding COPA’s position against what they see as Wright’s legal position.
“As regards the grounds of contempt, I have found that each has been proven beyond reasonable doubt,” Judge Mellor said during sentencing.
Craig Wright wanted to FOMO Satoshi into revealing his identity, but the true creator of Bitcoin never fell for it. The earnings spoke for themselves. Now Craig will rot in prison.
The real Satoshi will likely reveal his identity on his deathbed.
The legal proceedings
Wright watched his sentencing virtually from an undisclosed location in Asia. Despite the ruling, Wright vowed to appeal. Pressed during the hearing, he refused to reveal his exact whereabouts.
Judge Mellor, who previously said 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 escalating his public statements again,” Mellor noted in a scathing criticism of Wright’s behavior.
Craig "Faketoshi" Wright failed to appear at the hearing today for contempt of court. Why? He claims to be too poor to afford the flight.
Quite a drop 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 cryptocurrency industry in general. Wright has frequently targeted the Bitcoin community with lawsuits, including defamation claims, Bitcoin whitepaper controversies, and more. Jonathan Hough, COPA’s legal representative, called Wright’s tactics an attempt to mislead and manipulate.
“This was a desperate publicity stunt to keep his cult supporters engaged,” Hough said in court.
Cryptocurrencies move forward
The Craig Wright contempt case exemplifies the crypto community’s determination to safeguard its foundations.
This ruling serves as a strong wake-up call: leave the noise, stick with the work and aim for a future built on actual progress. Cryptocurrencies have no patience for circus acts, but only for those ready to overcome their limits.
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