Australian Computer Scientist Faces Perjury and Forgery Charges for False Bitcoin Creator Claim
An Australian computer scientist who falsely claimed to be the mysterious creator of the bitcoin cryptocurrency is now facing possible perjury and forgery charges in the UK.
London High Court Judge James Mellor ruled in March that Craig Wright was not the man behind the pseudonym “Satoshi Nakamoto”, the creator of bitcoin. Mellor stated that Wright had committed “a most serious abuse” of the court process by advancing his false claim through multiple legal actions.
The judge found overwhelming evidence that Wright had lied extensively and forged documents on a grand scale during the case. As a result, Mellor has referred the evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider bringing charges against Wright for perjury and forgery.
In addition to the potential charges, the judge suggested that prosecutors should consider issuing a warrant for Wright’s arrest or seeking his extradition from wherever he may be currently located.
The origins of bitcoin have long been shrouded in mystery, with speculation surrounding the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto. Wright emerged in 2016 claiming to be Nakamoto, only to later retract his statement, citing a lack of courage to provide further proof.
The ruling against Wright was seen as a victory for open source developers, who had accused him of using his claim to bitcoin’s invention to intimidate developers and hinder the advancement of the technology.
The case has significant implications for the control of intellectual property rights related to bitcoin, the world’s most popular virtual currency. Three pending lawsuits filed by Wright based on his claim to bitcoin’s intellectual property rights were affected by the ruling.
Despite testifying during the trial, Wright denied the allegations against him. Bitcoin, like other digital currencies, operates independently of banks and governments, allowing users to transact anonymously. It can be converted to cash through online trading platforms.
The outcome of this case could have far-reaching consequences for the future of bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency industry.
