The Australian computer scientist Craig Wright, who claimed to be Bitcoin’s creator, has been arrested and jailed for one year. He has been suspended for two years, after being convicted on charges of contempt of court. Wright had disregarded an injunction issued against him in March 2024, that prevented filing a £911 billion lawsuit against Bitcoin Core Developers and Square Up Europe Ltd.
The contempt proceedings were initiated by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance, a group supported by Coinbase and Kraken, among others. COPA is represented by Jonathan Hough KC of Bird & Bird LLP, who accused Wright of ignoring the injunction that barred him from asserting legal claims tied to his disputed identity as Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin.
The UK High Court previously found Wright was not Satoshi based on “overwhelming evidence” of forgery and dishonesty. Justice Mellor condemned Wright’s activities, labeling them a “grand-scale misuse” of the legal system. The judge did not take that judgment to mean that over 100 companies globally which COPA branded as harassment, and a “distortion of reality”, launched lawsuits against them.
Fake Bitcoin’s creator arrested but denies the claims
Wright did not attend the contempt hearing in person, citing prohibitive costs and safety concerns. COPA had offered to cover his travel expenses, but he declined. When questioned about his location via video link, Wright vaguely stated he was “in Asia,” refusing to disclose further details.
Judge Mellor dismissed Wright’s arguments about his autism and safety concerns, as he had actively participated in previous legal cases without raising such objections. The judge said, “There is no doubt whatever that each of these contempts has been proved.”
He was also ordered to pay £144,000 in legal fees within two weeks. Despite the judgment, legal experts predict that Wright’s contentious history will lead to further court battles, though this ruling may limit his ability to weaponize the legal system in the future.
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