Craig Wright, the self-proclaimed creator of Bitcoin, has once again found himself at the centre of attention.
Wright has encountered substantial legal hurdles and controversy surrounding his assertions of being Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous inventor of Bitcoin.
On 16 July, the UK High Court delivered a judgment against Wright, unequivocally stating that he is not Satoshi Nakamoto.
Consequently, Wright has been compelled to amend the homepage of his personal website with a legal notice acknowledging that he is not the creator of Bitcoin.
This notice, which must remain on Wright's website for six months, asserts that Wright "extensively and repeatedly" lied in court proceedings where he claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto and "attempted to create a false narrative by forging documents 'on a grand scale'."
The declaration characterises Wright's intricate deception, perpetuated through "multiple legal actions," as a "most serious abuse" of the legal systems in the UK, Norway, and the US.
It also directs visitors to the full judgment against Wright and its appendix, which outlines various forged documents attributed to Wright.
The notice is part of a dissemination order granted by Justice James Mellor, the UK judge presiding over the case brought against Wright by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), a non-profit organisation representing Bitcoin developers committed to fostering innovation in the burgeoning crypto sector.
In 2016, Wright began claiming to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, and aggressively sought to assert his rights over Bitcoin's intellectual property.
COPA, backed by industry leaders like Block's Jack Dorsey, Coinbase, and organisations such as Human Rights Watch, initiated legal action against Wright in 2021.
Their aim was to obtain a definitive ruling that Wright is not Nakamoto, thereby preventing him from claiming copyright over the Bitcoin whitepaper and from suing critics and developers under the pretense of being Bitcoin's creator.
Earlier this year, Judge Mellor ruled that Wright is not the creator of Bitcoin.
In a subsequent written judgment on 20 May, the High Court of England found Wright dishonest in his claims of being Satoshi Nakamoto.
The court noted his repeated lies and the forging and tampering of documents to support his false narratives.
This behavior constituted a serious abuse of the legal processes in the US, UK, and Norway.
The court has established that Wright is not the author of the Bitcoin whitepaper and does not hold its copyright.
Judge Mellor's final judgment not only ruled against Wright's claims but also referred him, along with his colleague Stefan Matthews, to UK prosecutors, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), for consideration of perjury charges, highlighting the extensive lies and document forgery.
The judge affirmed:
“I have no doubt that I should refer the relevant papers in this case to the CPS for consideration of whether a prosecution should be commenced against Dr Wright for his wholescale perjury and forgery of documents and/or whether a warrant for his arrest should be issued and/or whether his extradition should be sought from wherever he now is. All those matters are to be decided by the CPS.”
As a result, Wright was ordered to publicly acknowledge that he is neither the creator of Bitcoin nor the author of the Bitcoin whitepaper.
This dissemination order was part of Mellor's final judgment.
Wright was also directed to post a similar notice on his X account and Slack channels.
Despite his social media declarations, Wright had not yet updated his X account with the legal notice, and Mellor noted that Wright had not applied for permission to appeal the decision that he was not Satoshi Nakamoto.
His last post was on 20 May.
A COPA spokesperson noted shortly after the ruling:
“This decision is a win for developers, for the entire open source community, and for the truth. For over eight years, Dr. Wright and his financial backers have lied about his identity as Satoshi Nakamoto and used that lie to bully and intimidate developers in the bitcoin community. That ends today with the court’s ruling that Craig Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto.”
Judge Mellor, presiding over the case in the UK, deemed a notice on Wright's website insufficient.
He highlighted that Wright's primary communication channels, formerly known as Twitter and Slack, were crucial in reaching his audience.
Consequently, a public declaration must be prominently displayed on Wright's website and social media accounts for six months.
Additionally, these notices will be visible for three months on his Slack channels.
The Australian computer scientist and Satoshi Nakamoto-claimant’s current location is unknown.
Evidence from COPA indicates that Wright has vacated his previous residence in Wimbledon and appears to have departed the UK.
His movements suggest he may be traveling in countries within the UTC +7 time zone, spanning areas in Russia's Siberia and Southeast Asia.
The investigation is nearing its conclusion, with differing opinions on the treatment of Wright's claims.
As the crypto community awaits the CPS investigation results, this case underscores the criticality of honesty and transparency in the industry.
These events provide valuable lessons for the future, shaping how similar claims will be handled.
Barely 24 hours after announcing to reporters that he will be having a meeting with Chairman Xi in the weeks to come, Trump is now threatening to impose a tariff of up to 155% on Chinese goods if both countries do not reach a mutual agreement during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Seoul.
XingChiEthereum continues to lead blockchain development, gaining more than 16,000 new developers between January and September 2025. Solana’s developer base is expanding rapidly, though some figures may be underestimated due to incomplete reporting.
WeatherlyCelebrity hairstylist Jawed Habib, his son, and an associate are accused of defrauding over 150 investors of Rs 5–7 crore through a fake crypto scheme. Police say they used his fame to gain trust and have issued lookout notices as investigations continue.
WeatherlyCompass Coffee in Washington, D.C., now accepts Bitcoin payments using Square’s terminals, with transactions settling instantly via the Lightning Network. The trial showed Bitcoin can work reliably for everyday purchases, allowing merchants to convert up to half of daily sales into crypto with no fees for the first year.
AnaisU.S. President Donald Trump has officially confirmed that the United States is in an active trade war with China, following his threat last week to impose a 100% tariff on all Chinese imports.
XingChiThe UK plans to return $7 billion in Bitcoin to Chinese investors after a major fraud case, with the criminals pleading guilty to money laundering. Authorities face challenges tracing claims and distributing the funds due to cross-border complexities and China’s crypto ban.
AnaisSteak ‘n Shake has scrapped its plans to accept Ethereum (ETH) payments after a fierce backlash from Bitcoin (BTC) supporters, exposing the deep-rooted tribal divide that continues to shape the digital asset world.
XingChiBhutan has moved its national digital ID system to the Ethereum blockchain, giving nearly 800,000 citizens more control over their personal data. The migration aims to improve security, privacy, and transparency, while the country also continues expanding its cryptocurrency holdings and blockchain initiatives.
AnaisChinese investors who lost money in a $6 billion Bitcoin Ponzi scheme face a long legal battle to reclaim their funds from 61,000 bitcoins seized by U.K. authorities, now worth over $7.4 billion. The case centres on Qian Zhimin, who pleaded guilty to money laundering, but tracing the coins back to individual victims remains highly complex.
WeatherlyVenezuelan opposition leader and pro-democracy icon María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, recognized not only for her unyielding battle for freedom but also for her embrace of Bitcoin as a tool of human rights and resistance.
XingChiA UK judge denied Craig Wright's appeal, citing inaccuracies and "AI-generated hallucinations," sparking questions about his use of AI in the filing.
CatherineCraig Wright has filed an appeal against a UK court ruling, but controversy surrounds the timing of the submission and allegations regarding the use of AI in drafting the appeal.
BerniceIn a high-stakes legal showdown, the UK High Court delves into the mystery of Bitcoin's creator as the Crypto Open Patent Alliance challenges Craig Wright's bold claims. With a rejected settlement offer adding drama, the courtroom spectacle unfolds, promising a thrilling saga of legal battles and the quest to unveil the true identity behind Satoshi.
JoyAs cryptocurrencies gain mainstream acceptance, the law is now grappling with how to use old legal concepts to protect and control this relatively new technology. Bitcoin is currently the subject of several cases before courts in the UK and elsewhere.
JinseFinanceControversial self-proclaimed 'Satoshi' Craig Wright never knows when to call it quits. Let's take a look how it all unraveled.
ZoeyComputer scientist Craig Wright has lost a claim in a UK court to protect the Bitcoin blockchain by copyright.
decrypt
Coinlive We speak with Craig Wright, the self-proclaimed founder of Bitcoin and Chief Scientist at nChain.
DarrenClosing statements on behalf of the Twitter user suggests the case could hinge on vagaries of Norwegian defamation law as much as BTC founder's identity.
CoindeskWright’s attorneys say his scholarly work, personal history and, above all, his success convincing Gavin Andresen that he held Satoshi’s private keys are proof enough.
Coindesk