- Craig Wright receives one-year suspended prison sentence for violating court injunction.
- Wright filed £911 billion lawsuit against Bitcoin Core developers despite March 2024 court order.
- UK High Court found Wright not to be Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto in March 2024.
- Wright failed to appear at contempt hearing, citing financial concerns despite COPA’s offer to cover expenses.
- Court orders Wright to pay £144,000 in legal costs within 14 days.
Craig Wright, the Australian computer scientist who repeatedly claimed to be Bitcoin’s creator, faces a one-year suspended prison sentence after the UK High Court found him in contempt of court for violating a March 2024 injunction.
Legal Battle Details
The Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), supported by major cryptocurrency firms including Coinbase, Kraken, and MicroStrategy, initiated the contempt proceedings after Wright filed a £911 billion lawsuit against Bitcoin Core developers and Square Up Europe Limited. This action directly violated the March 2024 injunction preventing Wright from making legal claims based on his alleged identity as Satoshi Nakamoto.
Mr. Justice Mellor’s ruling highlighted:
- Multiple instances of document forgery
- Extensive false statements under oath
- Deliberate misuse of court proceedings
Hearing and Sentencing
During the video-linked sentencing, Wright refused to specify his location beyond stating he was "in Asia." He claimed attendance would cost him £240,000 in lost business revenue, despite COPA offering to cover his travel expenses.
The court determined five specific grounds of contempt, with Judge Mellor stating: "I have found, to the requisite criminal standard of proof, that Dr. Wright committed each of the contempts alleged by COPA in their Grounds 1 to 5 inclusive."
Jonathan Hough KC, representing COPA, characterized Wright’s actions as premeditated attempts to:
- Relitigate settled matters
- Manipulate court proceedings
- Maintain public attention
The suspended sentence means Wright will avoid imprisonment if he complies with court orders for two years. This ruling marks a significant setback for Wright’s claims regarding Bitcoin’s creation and sets a precedent for future cryptocurrency-related legal disputes.
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