Craig Wright, the Australian man who claims to have invented Bitcoin, was sentenced to a year in prison by a UK judge for contempt of court. This sentence, however, is suspended for two years, meaning Wright will avoid jail unless he violates further court orders. Wright has been involved in numerous legal battles, asserting intellectual property rights over Bitcoin, and his latest actions led to the court ruling. He failed to attend a court hearing in person, claiming to be in Asia, and disregarded a previous ruling that had instructed him to stop asserting he was Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s creator.
The court’s decision stems from Wright’s persistent legal actions, including a massive lawsuit he filed in October against Twitter founder Jack Dorsey’s payments company, Block. This lawsuit, valued at over $1 trillion, was seen as a violation of prior court orders. Specifically, Justice James Mellor had already determined earlier this year that Wright was not Satoshi Nakamoto and had accused him of fabricating evidence in his claims. As a result, Mellor referred Wright for potential criminal charges of perjury and forgery, intensifying the legal pressure on him.
Wright’s continued refusal to comply with court orders led to the contempt ruling. The court found that he had breached previous injunctions against asserting intellectual property rights over Bitcoin and had failed to attend the contempt hearing, despite a six-week notice period. Wright argued that attending the hearing would cause significant financial loss, citing business commitments. However, the judge rejected this claim, deeming it an exaggerated excuse to avoid court attendance. Mellor concluded that Wright prioritized his business over complying with court orders, further aggravating the situation.
Craig Wright Sentenced to Suspended Jail Term for Contempt of Court in Bitcoin Legal Battle
The case also highlights Wright’s controversial actions in his ongoing lawsuits. In his latest legal filing, he included a defendant called “BTC Core,” which the court ruled to be a fictitious entity invented by Wright. This entity allegedly represented a group of corporate entities and individuals involved in Bitcoin development. However, the court found no evidence that such a partnership or entity existed. This invention of a defendant was deemed another attempt by Wright to assert control over Bitcoin-related intellectual property rights, further complicating his legal troubles.
Wright’s repeated claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto have been a central issue in the court proceedings. Despite the clear court order barring such claims, Wright continued to argue that his lawsuits were separate from his claim to have created Bitcoin. Justice Mellor rejected this argument, pointing out that Wright’s latest lawsuit still relied on the assertion that he was Satoshi Nakamoto. This marked another breach of the earlier court ruling, which explicitly prohibited Wright from making such claims in any legal action.
This case demonstrates the continued legal and personal battles surrounding Craig Wright’s claims to Bitcoin’s creation. Despite repeated court rulings against him, including the finding that his evidence was fabricated, Wright remains engaged in legal disputes that challenge the legitimacy of his claims. The court’s latest decision serves as a reminder that, unless he changes his approach, Wright could face further legal consequences, including imprisonment.
