- Craig Wright is barred from filing further UK court claims without special permission for three years.
- The court ordered Wright to pay approximately $132,000 in legal costs to Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) and SquareUp.
- Wright may face stricter legal restrictions if the UK Attorney General designates him as a vexatious litigant.
A UK court has issued a General Civil Restraint Order (GCRO) against Craig Wright, the self-identified creator of Bitcoin, which prohibits him from bringing new legal claims in the UK without the permission of the High Court. This development follows applications from the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) and payments company SquareUp, according to a judgment by Judge James Mellor released recently.
The order was granted after COPA and SquareUp filed the applications, incurring approximately $132,000 in costs, which Wright has now been ordered to pay. The judgment also refers Wright to the UK’s Attorney General, who will determine whether he should receive an additional Civil Procedure Order (CPO), a stricter legal constraint for those repeatedly filing meritless lawsuits.
The GCRO restricts Wright from submitting any civil claims to county or high courts in the UK for three years without High Court approval. The order may be extended later, provided a judge approves the request and Wright receives notification. If Wright violates the order, he could be found in contempt of court and potentially face prison time. The ruling can be reviewed at this link.
The CPO, which the Attorney General may still apply, would restrict claims in any UK court and is reserved for those who have “habitually, persistently and without reasonable grounds engaged in vexatious proceedings”, as outlined in law guidance%3B).
Judge Mellor stated that Wright’s actions have imposed costs of at least $13 million on his opponents in the UK and noted, “Dr Wright’s actions have taken up far too much court time and resources already.” The decision comes after Wright’s failed attempts in court last year to prove that he is Bitcoin’s pseudonymous inventor—an identity that continues to be challenged.
For more information about civil restraint orders, see the official UK government guidance and further legal context on civil procedure orders.
Recent reports suggest Wright may now reside in rural Asia, turning to agricultural pursuits, though these details do not affect his current legal status in the UK.
✅ Follow BITNEWSBOT on Telegram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X.com, and Google News for instant updates.
Previous Articles:
- Patel Real Estate Launches $100M Tokenization Fund on Chintai
- Trump Sons’ Firm to Own 98% of Merged Bitcoin Miner, Rebrands
- Stocktwits Launches Cryptotwits as CEO Howard Lindzon Returns
- Fake AI Tools Spread Noodlophile Malware via Social Media Platforms
- Sonic Labs Raises $10M From Galaxy to Boost U.S. DeFi Growth
