In a recent verdict, UK Judge James Mellor dismissed Craig Wright’s assertions of being Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious figure behind the creation of Bitcoin.
The ruling was delivered following the closing arguments in a lawsuit initiated by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) against Wright, an Australian computer scientist who has maintained his identity as Nakamoto since 2016.
COPA, an organization dedicated to promoting the adoption and advancement of cryptocurrency technologies while advocating for the removal of patents as impediments to growth and innovation, sought injunctive relief to halt Wright from perpetuating claims of being Nakamoto.
The case presented extensive allegations of document forgery against Wright, suggesting that he had fabricated a substantial amount of evidence to substantiate his assertion of being the pseudonymous Bitcoin founder, as detailed by BitMEX Research.
The trial, which began on February 5, saw Wright proposing an out-of-court settlement on January 24. However, COPA opted to reject the settlement offer.
COPA Alleges Craig Wright’s Involvement in Extensive Deceptive Practices
In its final submission, COPA asserted that Wright had participated in widespread deceit, highlighting his creation of an intricate biographical narrative and fabrication of a range of documents to support his assertions.
The evidence unveiled during the trial depicted Wright’s purported fabrications on an “extraordinary scale.”
The trial is now over.
As the evidence against Craig was so strong, the judged annouced his early findings on some of the key issues at the end of the trial
It is now official from Judge Mellor:
Craig Wright is NOT Satoshi!!!
— BitMEX Research (@BitMEXResearch) March 14, 2024
The legal action against Wright marks not his inaugural encounter with legal disputes concerning his assertions.
In 2023, Wright initiated legal proceedings against 13 Bitcoin Core developers and several entities, such as Blockstream, Coinbase, and Block, alleging copyright infringements concerning the Bitcoin white paper, its file format, and the database rights to the Bitcoin blockchain.
Previously, in 2019, Wright had submitted a copyright registration for the Bitcoin white paper and its underlying code in the United States. However, it’s worth highlighting that the Bitcoin white paper is currently governed by an MIT open-source license, granting permission for anyone to reuse and modify the code for any purpose.
Should the court rule in favor of COPA, it would constrain Wright’s capacity to pursue further copyright claims pertaining to the white paper.
It is conceivable that Nakamoto could be a collective entity.
In yet another blow to Craig Wright’s claims of being the enigmatic figure behind Bitcoin, recent investigations have surfaced suggesting that Satoshi Nakamoto might, in fact, be a collective entity rather than an individual.
One compelling piece of evidence supporting this theory is found within the Bitcoin white paper itself. Throughout the document, there are instances where both “we” and “I” are used interchangeably, hinting at the potential presence of a team working collaboratively under a single pseudonym. This dual usage of pronouns implies a collective effort rather than the work of a solitary individual.
Further evidence supporting the notion of Nakamoto being a group effort stems from linguistic analyses of Nakamoto’s writings. While the Bitcoin white paper exhibits impeccable English proficiency characterized by precise language and accurate usage of technical terminology, Nakamoto’s communication style appears to vary in forums and email correspondences. These differences suggest that multiple individuals may have been involved in the creation and dissemination of Nakamoto’s messages, indicating a collaborative effort rather than the singular voice of one individual.
This revelation challenges the longstanding assumption that Satoshi Nakamoto is a single person and raises intriguing questions about the nature of the Bitcoin project’s origins. If indeed Nakamoto is a collective entity, it would reshape our understanding of the genesis of Bitcoin and the dynamics behind its creation. The possibility of a team effort behind one of the most groundbreaking innovations of the modern era adds another layer of complexity to the already enigmatic persona of Satoshi Nakamoto and underscores the collaborative nature of technological breakthroughs in the digital age.
