Craig Wright, an Australian who has long maintained that Satoshi Nakamoto is the originator of Bitcoin, received a one-year prison sentence with a two-year suspension for contempt of court. The court made this decision in response to his ongoing litigation, despite a prior order prohibiting him from engaging in such activities.
In March, a UK court determined that Wright was not Nakamoto. However, he disregarded the ruling and filed supplementary litigation, alleging that Bitcoin developers were misrepresenting Nakamoto’s vision. Wright’s actions, which included claims for substantial damages from over 100 companies, resulted in the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) pursuing legal action against him.
According to COPA, Wright’s lawsuits were a publicity stunt to keep his supporters engaged and directly violated the court’s order. In December, the court fined Wright £145,000 (approximately $180,000) on top of his suspended sentence. Wright has declared his intention to appeal the decision, despite his absence from the judicial hearing.
The case underscores the ongoing mystery surrounding the actual identity of Bitcoin’s creator. Despite Wright’s persistent court rebuffs, the debate surrounding Nakamoto’s identity continues.
