Self-Proclaimed Bitcoin Creator Craig Wright Dodges Prison Sentence

UK judge sentenced self-proclaimed Bitcoin creator Craig Wright to a year in prison for contempting the court.

This ruling comes after Wright ignored a court order prohibiting him from suing Bitcoin developers, violating the conditions set by the court.

In a hearing on December 19, Judge James Mellor found Wright guilty on five counts of contempt related to lawsuits filed against Bitcoin-related companies. As a result, Wright faces a £145,000 fine (approximately $180,000) and the suspended prison sentence. This judgment was part of a legal battle initiated by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), which accused Wright of continuing to pursue legal action against firms while falsely asserting that he was Satoshi Nakamoto.

COPA’s attorney, Jonathan Hough, revealed that Wright had filed numerous lawsuits against over 100 companies, seeking damages totaling around £900 billion based on his claim of being Bitcoin’s creator. Hough described Wright’s legal actions as a “publicity stunt” aimed at maintaining the support of his followers.

Despite Wright’s repeated assertions over the years, the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains a mystery. Wright had initially appealed the March court ruling that declared he was not the Bitcoin creator, but his appeal was dismissed by the UK Court of Appeal, which cited multiple falsehoods in his claims.

While it’s uncertain whether Wright will face an arrest warrant, some targets of his lawsuits have taken legal action of their own. For instance, in July, a UK court froze Wright’s assets to help podcaster Peter McCormack recover legal costs from a defamation case.