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Craig Wright: Self-proclaimed Bitcoin inventor Faces Criminal Investigation in Britain for Alleged Perjury

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Craig Wright, an Australian computer scientist who has long claimed to be the inventor of Bitcoin, is now facing a criminal investigation in Britain for alleged perjury. Wright, 54, has been found to have repeatedly lied and forged documents to support his assertion that he is the author of the 2008 Bitcoin white paper published under the pseudonym “Satoshi Nakamoto”.

Wright has pursued litigation worldwide based on his claim, including high-profile cases in the United States and Britain. The Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), which includes members such as Jack Dorsey’s payments firm Block, took Wright to court to prevent him from suing Bitcoin developers. Earlier this year, Wright’s case culminated in a trial at London’s High Court.

In March, Judge James Mellor ruled that the evidence against Wright’s claim of being Satoshi Nakamoto was “overwhelming”. In a written judgment issued in May, Mellor stated that Wright had lied “extensively and repeatedly” and had forged documents “on a grand scale” during the case.

On Tuesday, Judge Mellor referred Wright to Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service, recommending they consider initiating a prosecution for perjury and forgery. Mellor also suggested that prosecutors consider issuing a warrant for Wright’s arrest and potentially seeking his extradition from his current location, which is currently unknown.

This development marks a significant turn in the long-running saga surrounding Wright’s controversial claim to be the creator of Bitcoin, a claim that has been met with widespread skepticism and legal challenges. The outcome of the criminal investigation could have far-reaching implications for Wright and the ongoing discourse about the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto.

 

Ripple CTO Calls Craig Wright’s Backdating Admission Proof He Isn’t Satoshi

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Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, has entered the fray of the ongoing legal battle between the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) and Craig Steven Wright (CWS). Schwartz has focused on a crucial element of the case: the controversial practice of backdating documents. The central point of contention revolves around whether Wright’s actions, particularly his admission of backdating documents, provide legitimacy to his assertion of being Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin.

Former Goldman Sachs official Jerry David Chan contended that backdating documents shouldn’t outright discredit Wright’s assertion of being Satoshi. He suggested that such actions could be construed circumstantially, attributing them to what he described as an “anti-Craig Cartel” backed by influential figures from Silicon Valley, including financial heavyweights like Mastercard and Bitmex funders.

Contrary to Chan’s stance, Ripple Chief Schwartz rebuffed the notion. He argued that Wright’s admission of backdating documents constitutes compelling evidence against his claims to Satoshi’s identity. Emphasizing the standard of proof as something convincing to a reasonable person, Schwartz highlighted that the backdating implies a lack of genuine documentation, thereby casting a shadow of doubt over Wright’s assertions.

Ripple’s CTO Challenges Wright’s Backdating Admission

The courtroom proceedings disclosed Wright’s acknowledgment of backdating documents, a practice he deemed commonplace. For Schwartz, this admission further erodes Wright’s credibility as Satoshi Nakamoto. He posited that the true Satoshi would possess authentic documentation, rendering the need for backdating unnecessary.

Amidst the ongoing legal battle between COPA and Wright, the dispute over his true identity intensifies. Divergent viewpoints from industry heavyweights like Jerry David Chan and Ripple Chief David Schwartz heighten the debate on whether Craig Wright truly represents Satoshi Nakamoto in the cryptocurrency sphere. This controversy underscores the significance of Wright’s claims and prompts a deeper examination of his credibility within the crypto community.

The contrast in opinions highlights the intricate nature of the case and its impact on the broader cryptocurrency landscape. As new information surfaces and undergoes scrutiny, the quest to uncover the mysterious identity of Satoshi Nakamoto intensifies, capturing the attention of the crypto community. Each revelation propels the investigation further, fostering anticipation for the next development in this ongoing legal narrative. The depth of analysis and ongoing speculation surrounding this saga serve to underscore its significance and the fervor with which stakeholders await further insights.

Bitcoin Drama: Craig Wright Vs Peter McCormack Settles at £1

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In a significant blow to Craig Wright, who claims to be Bitcoin’s elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, the Supreme Court has dismissed his final appeal in a libel case against Bitcoin podcaster Peter McCormack. The ruling also stipulated a mere compensation of 1 GBP for Wright in the defamation claim.McCormack revealed the court’s decision, stating that three Supreme Court justices—Lord Briggs, Lady Rose, and Lord Richards—denied permission to appeal, asserting that Wright’s appeal failed to raise an arguable question of law.

This marks the conclusion of Wright’s substantive claim against McCormack, who expressed relief after five years of legal battles. Craig Wright had sought legal action against McCormack for alleged libel, a case that McCormack described as “5 years of hell.” The verdict, however, leaves Wright with minimal compensation and ends the legal ordeal for McCormack, who acknowledged the support from his legal team, his brother, and the community during this challenging period.

Craig Wright
Bitcoin Drama: Craig Wright Vs Peter McCormack Settles at £1 2

Notable pseudonymous Bitcoiner Magnus Granath, also known as Hodlonaut, weighed in on the development, shedding light on the relentless legal pressure he faced from Craig Wright and Calvin Ayre. Granath recounted threats, doxxing, and intimidation tactics initiated by both parties, emphasizing the lack of mercy for such actions.

COPA Rejects Craig Wright’s Settlement Offer

Wright’s legal battles extend beyond this libel case, with several ongoing lawsuits against crypto companies and Bitcoin developers. Recently, he extended a settlement offer to the Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance [COPA], an offer subsequently rejected by the latter. Led by Square, COPA emphasized their skepticism, highlighting potential loopholes that could allow Wright to pursue legal action once again.

The group initiated legal action against Wright in the U.K., challenging his copyright assertions related to the Bitcoin white paper. COPA, in response to a cease-and-desist notice from Wright’s lawyers, demanded proof of his identity as Satoshi Nakamoto before considering any removal of the white paper from their site. The rejection of Wright’s settlement offer adds another layer to the ongoing legal saga surrounding Bitcoin’s controversial figure.

Satoshi Drama: Craig Wright’s Closest Ally Considers Backing Out

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Self-proclaimed Satoshi Nakamoto, Craig Wright, is in the spotlight after an explosive email conversation between Calvin Ayre, founder of Ayre Group, and Wright sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency community. The leaked email, disclosed by former nChain CEO and Bitcoin SV [BSV] enthusiast Christen Ager-Hanssen, highlights a fierce confrontation between the two parties regarding the ownership of Bitcoin keys, a pivotal element in determining Wright’s claim as the creator of Bitcoin.

Ayre’s email, dated September 23, paints a grim picture of Wright’s legal situation, citing the ongoing legal battle between the two. The crux of the matter revolves around Ayre’s skepticism regarding Wright’s identity as Satoshi Nakamoto. Ayre emphasized the critical nature of the upcoming COPA trial, which could potentially debunk Wright’s claims if he fails, significantly impacting his financial future.

Craig Wright
Satoshi Drama: Craig Wright's Closest Ally Considers Backing Out 4

In the email, Ayre expressed his concerns about Wright’s legal expertise and financial soundness, raising doubts about his ability to handle the complex and costly legal landscape. He hinted at withdrawing financial support for Wright’s legal endeavors, further complicating their relationship.

A couple of years ago, the Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance [COPA], spearheaded by Square, took legal action against Craig Wright in the U.K. concerning his copyright assertions related to the Bitcoin white paper. In response to a cease-and-desist notice from Wright’s lawyers, dated January 21, 2021, demanding Square remove the white paper from its site, COPA challenged Wright: prove your identity as Satoshi Nakamoto, the paper’s creator, first.

Despite the repeated requests from the Bitcoin community for Wright to validate his claims by signing a transaction of Satoshi BTC, he has consistently refused, even in courtrooms. Recently, Calvin Ayre, a significant supporter of Wright, appears to have reached his breaking point. If the COPA trial rules against Wright, it could cast doubt on his credibility as Satoshi Nakamoto, potentially impacting the value of intellectual property linked to him.

Craig Wright’s Satoshi Claims Face Litmus Test

The ongoing saga has captured the attention of various cryptocurrency personalities, including XRP lawyer John Deaton, who expressed skepticism, especially regarding Craig Wright’s claim to possess Satoshi’s keys. Deaton cited Wright’s erratic behavior, suggesting that if he truly held the keys, he might have sold the Bitcoins, causing significant market upheaval.

The cryptocurrency community is closely following this unfolding financial drama with great concern. The outcome of the COPA trial carries immense weight, influencing not just Craig Wright’s reputation but also the broader cryptocurrency market. This revelation has triggered intense speculation and discussions, highlighting the unpredictability of the cryptocurrency world.

Craig Wright’s Case Against Kraken and Coinbase Rejected: Ordered to Pay $516K

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Craig Wright, an Australian computer scientist who asserts that he is the mastermind behind Bitcoin, known as Satoshi Nakamoto, and claims ownership of the foundational ideas behind various cryptocurrencies, has been ordered to provide 400,000 British pounds ($516,000) as security for covering legal expenses in his pursuit of claims against cryptocurrency exchanges Coinbase and Kraken.

Judge James Mellor, presiding over the England and Wales High Court, expressed skepticism about Wright’s ability to fund the legal costs. The judge referred to past instances where Craig Wright had allegedly made inconsistent statements regarding his financial situation. In a judgment issued on Tuesday, Mellor stated that the evidence presented was insufficient to convince him that Wright or his investment company possessed sufficient liquid assets to meet the potentially substantial legal expenses. He warned that the legal action would be struck out in a matter of weeks if the required security payment was not made.

Wright claims ownership of the term “Bitcoin” and alleges that Coinbase and Kraken’s support for trading in bitcoin (BTC) and bitcoin cash (BCH) is damaging the reputation of the competing cryptocurrency, bitcoin satoshi vision (BSV).

Judge Mellor referred to statements made by Wright, where he asserted that he had made himself financially secure by utilizing a trust to transfer assets. However, these statements appeared to be inconsistent with his testimony in a parallel legal proceeding in the United States involving his former business partner, Ira Kleiman.

In addition, the judge noted testimony that seemed to conflict with statements made in connected U.S. court proceedings involving Craig Wright’s previous business partner, Ira Kleiman. Several members of Crypto Twitter also chimed in and suggested that he was broke.

In a separate case scheduled for later that day in Florida, Wright is facing accusations of contempt of court for allegedly withholding crucial information related to a dispute with Kleiman’s estate over $143 million worth of cryptocurrency ownership. Wright’s defense in this matter involves claiming that he lacks financial information about his wife, Ramona Ang, and that the witness statements he provided in UK courts should be considered as “hearsay.”

In October, an Oslo court ruled in favor of a Twitter user named Hodlonaut, who had posted tweets referring to Wright as a “fraud” and “scammer” for claiming to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the author of the 2008 Bitcoin White Paper. An appeal for this case is scheduled to be heard later this year.

Kraken addresses Craig Wright’s claims

Kraken’s spokesperson conveyed via email to CoinDesk that the court’s ruling is a significant victory in their efforts to counter Craig Wright’s assertions of having control over Bitcoin. The spokesperson emphasized that Satoshi Nakamoto’s original intention was never to grant one individual the authority over Bitcoin. Instead, Nakamoto released the Bitcoin software as open-source, making it accessible to the world for the benefit of all.

Coinbase and lawyers for Wright did not immediately respond to CoinDesk’s request for comment.

Square Encounters Trouble With Craig Wright

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Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter rolled out Square to venture into the crypto-verse. The platform recently launched COPA [Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance] to aid cryptocurrency firms to deal with issues pertaining to copyrights. While the crypto industry lauded this move, Craig Wright seemed to be having an issue with the same.

Square Hits Back With COPA

In a recent tweet, Square revealed that Ontier LLP, a law firm representing self-proclaimed inventor of Bitcoin, Craig Wright, sent out a letter to the firm suggesting that he decided to enforce his copyright on the Bitcoin White Paper. The law firm gave Square 14 days to answer the letter. While the last day of the deadline was 4 February, Square decided to employ COPA for this. The letter read,

“We consider that this is a straightforward copyright infringement claim, and accordingly would ask you to respond to this letter within 14 days, i.e. by 4pm GMT on 4 February 2021.

Square, however, made use of COPA and responded to the letter.

The payments platform hit back with a,” We don’t care who created bitcoin, just who didn’t.”

While it is evident that Wright is still sticking to his narrative of him inventing that first and largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. Ontier wrote in its letter to Dorsey’s platform,

“We should add that our client, and others associated with him, have further rights relating to the Bitcoin technology and the Bitcoin name. It is their firm intention to enforce such rights in due course. The writing of this letter and any settlement or judgment relating to the infringement of our client’s copyright in the White Paper, are entirely without prejudice to the enforcement in due course of such further rights.”

Amidst this, the Wright continues to deal with the Kleiman case. While that case is delayed to June 2021, Wright and his family continue to win several other lawsuits.

Craig Wright’s 1.1 Billion Bitcoin Case Sees Another Delay

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Lawsuits and court cases have become immensely common in the crypto-verse. However, Craig Wright and the Kleiman family have been at it for many years. The founder of Bitcoin SV and the self-proclaimed Satoshi Nakamoto, Craig Wright has prolonged the 1.1. million Bitcoin case with the Kleiman. While the trial for the case was scheduled for January 2021, the court revealed that the trial was once again delayed.

Trial For Craig Wright’s Case Delayed Once Again

Not long ago, the United States District Court for Southern District of Florida dismissed Craig Wright’s plea for summary judgment and scheduled the case for trial to 4 January 2021. However, a recent court document pointed out that the trial for the Kleiman vs Craig Wright case was again pushed to 5 April 2021. This delay would further change the dates pertaining to objections and exhibits. The court order pointed out that 16 March 2021 was the last date for exhibit lists and objections.

Elaborating on recent delay and change in deadlines, the court order further read,

” […] the parties will use this additional time to continue work on a targeted joint presentation of the exhibits and objections, with the hope of reducing the number of disputes requiring judicial resolution. Using the proposed deadlines to make streamlined, focused decisions will conserve judicial and party resources and lead to a better, and better considered, presentation of each side’s position at trial.”

Furthermore, Wright recently filed a court document urging the court to eliminate any sort of judicial statements that question his credibility that was made earlier. Wright was discreetly citing the several comments made by Judge Reinhart in the past. These “judicial statements” included, “During his testimony, Dr. Wright’s demeanor did not impress me as someone who was telling the truth.”

Apart from this, Wright in the court document went on to propose that Ira and Dave Kleiman’s mere sibling relationship wasn’t enough to pass on the wealth. The Kleiman family slapped Wright with a lawsuit as he reportedly owed half of his BTC holdings to Dave Kleiman.

Wright has been swimming in troubled waters lately. The Bitcoin SV founder found himself in severe backlash after he claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto. This was followed by multiple attempts to get out of the lawsuit, with the latest one being his summary judgment plea.

Florida Court Dismisses Craig Wright’s Summary Judgment Plea

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Apart from claiming to be the creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, Craig Wright continues to make it to the headlines over his billion-dollar Bitcoin case. The latest updates regarding the case highlight the denial of Craig Wright’s recent motion.

A Set Back For Self-Proclaimed Bitcoin Creator?

The District Court for the Southern District of Florida formulated a 93-page document revealing its take on the Kleiman and Wright case. As per the document, Judge Beth Bloom dismissed Wright’s plea for summary judgment further pushing the case to trial to 4 January 2021.

This is isn’t the first time Wright has tried to get out of the lawsuit. The latest news is an addition to Wright’s many attempts to steer clear of the lawsuit. Partner at Anderson Kill, Stephen Palley, pointed out the same in an array of tweets,

“If you can show that the “material” facts are not dispute and that as a consequence you are entitled to judgment in your favor as a matter of law, winner winner chicken dinner , and you can get out of the case in full or in part.

that’s what wright asked for here”

Wright reportedly put forth six arguments in the hope to get out of the lawsuit and all of them were rejected by Judge Bloom. Just a few months ago, Wright sought a trial before a jury over autism claims. While the court granted the Bitcoin SV founder a trial, the latest bid was denied.

Back in 2018, Ira Kleiman accused Wright of pilfering over 1.1 million Bitcoin which was previously mined by both Wright and David Kleiman. However, the charges didn’t stop there, Wright was further called out for perjurious testimony, submission of forged evidence, lies and forgery post-sanctions, and misconduct.

Wright hasn’t ended his swim in troubled waters. The crypto-verse went on to label the Bitcoin SV founder, “Faketoshi” for claiming to be Satoshi Nakamoto and even received immense backlash. Back in June, Wright’s lawyers sent out a letter to the prominent crypto platform, Blockstream highlighting that Wright was the man behind the infamous Mt. Gox hack, that disrupted the crypto sphere. Additionally, Wright’s inconsistent statements have also been a huge set back for his case.

Stolen Mt. Gox Bitcoin Claimed by Craig Wright

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Craig Wright, the self-proclaimed Bitcoin founder, has again boldly declared that he is the mastermind behind the 2011 stolen Mt. Gox Bitcoin totaling 79,956 BTC worth around $751 million in the current market. One of the addresses involved during the high-profile heist famous as the address “1Feex,” still contains bitcoins from the incident.

‘1Feex’ contains Stolen Mt. Gox Bitcoin

The controversial bitcoin figure wrote a letter through his law firm, SCA Ontier, addressed to Blockstream, the firm for Bitcoin network services. Wright alleges in the letter that he possesses more than two Bitcoin addresses. One was the 1 feex address believed to contain the BTC stolen from Mt Gox.

Over the years, with the motive to prove that he is the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin Satoshi Nakamoto, Wright has laid claim to many addresses. Wright has claimed ownership of the early Bitcoin addresses in defense of his dubious claims that contain significant amounts of money.

The feex address is a perfect match for Wright’s early addresses claiming ownership, as it originally received funds back in March 2011 with a balance of 79,900 BTC. Wright has implied himself as a participant in the Mt. Gox heist by claiming the popular address, even though the letter does not mention Mt. Gox anywhere.

Does Craig Wright ever stop?

In the past, Craig Wright has claimed bitcoin addresses that owners have come out to disapprove of him by using their keys to sign cryptographic messages. Wright alleges in his letter that during a robbery he lost his keys to the 1feex back in February this year. This means that he can not use the address to sign cryptographic messages nor to transact.

Stolen Mt. Gox Bitcoin

Craig Wright’s involvement in such a high-profile crime will only tarnish his already deplorable reputation in the cryptocurrency sector. Some industry players have suggested that Craig Wright be prosecuted for laying claim to stolen funds, but it’s unclear how to do that in practice.

There is actually not one lawsuit in the recent past that was ruled in support of Craig Wright. Despite this, he still tries tirelessly to prove that he is the Bitcoin creator. Expect more drama from Craig Wright soon

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Early Bitcoin Miner Labels Craig Wright a Fraud Via Own BTC Addresses

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An early Bitcoin miner signed a cryptographic message using 145 Bitcoin addresses with unspent BTC from 2009, describing Craig Steven Wright as a fraud and a liar. The message was shared on May 21, with a list of addresses and their respective signatures, proving that in fact the addresses belong to the person posting the message.

Craig Wright’s credibility has been dealt a significant blow after the addresses he claimed to be his were used to call him a fraud and a liar. This made it clear that he indeed does not own or run the addresses. 

Wright had presented the addresses as his holdings during a court trial. The court case was brought by David Kleiman, who seeks to claim half the fortune of the 1.1 BTC that were mined in the early days of Bitcoin by Satoshi Nakamoto. 

Addresses previously claimed by Craig Wright among those used by Early bitcoin miner 

Wright has attempted on a number of occasions to claim the vast wealth of Satoshi Nakamoto, who is believed to have mined more than one million bitcoins. However, Wright has failed to prove ownership of the vast fortune. An easy way of proving this is by signing a cryptographic message with the private key of a wallet.

As time passes, it becomes clearer that Craig Wright is not Satoshi. He has been accused on numerous occasions for faking documents and deception. He has several times attempted to avoid every time he was ordered to prove ownership of the addresses in court. 

A message from Satoshi?

The latest message bears some resemblance with another message back in 2015 that came through Satoshi Nakamoto’s email address. The 2015 message stated “I am not Craig Wright. We are all Satoshi.”

The initial part of the latest message spells out a similar concept to the 2015 message. The latest message is followed with a comment on the disputes that caused BCH to its own blockchain.

An early Bitcoin miner signed a cryptographic message using 145 Bitcoin addresses with unspent BTC from 2009, describing Craig Steven Wright as a fraud and a liar. The message was shared on May 25, with a list of addresses and their respective signatures, proving that in fact the addresses belong to the person posting the message.