An Australian who claimed he invented Bitcoin has shared a statement admitting he lied.
Scientist Craig Wright said he created the cryptocurrency under the name Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008, prompting a group of tech firms to launch legal action against him.
In March, a UK High Court judge ruled Wright was not the founder of Bitcoin. The Aussie stood by his claim before this statement was posted on his social media and website this week: “Dr Wright is not the person who created the Bitcoin system.”
Wright is now facing allegations of perjury — lying under oath in court.
Background
In 2008, a person or people under the name Satoshi Nakamoto published a ‘white paper’ outlining the idea for an “electronic cash” system (cryptocurrency) that worked outside of banks, called Bitcoin.
In 2015, several tech publications named Craig Wright as the author.
Wright has repeatedly alleged he wrote the white paper and sued people who have developed Bitcoin technology without his consent, because he claimed to hold the copyright.
Craig Wright’s court case
Late last year, the Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance (COPA) – a group of individuals and organisations linked to the crypto industry – launched a lawsuit to disprove Wright’s claims.
They alleged he committed “forgery on an industrial scale” by lying about inventing Bitcoin.
Wright testified in court that he was Nakamoto and the creator of Bitcoin.
UK High Court Justice James Mellor found there was “overwhelming” evidence Wright was lying.
Court order
This week, Justice Mellor ordered Wright to publish a statement with the court’s findings, and to stop launching any more lawsuits “based on the assertion that he is Satoshi Nakamoto”.
Mellor also said he was referring evidence from the case to UK authorities to consider if Wright should be charged with forging documents and lying in court.
Wright’s current location is unknown. Mellor noted that if he is to face criminal charges, he may be forced to return to the UK “from wherever he now is.”
