Craig Wright, who claims to be the creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, is now facing potential perjury charges. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is considering pressing these charges based on evidence presented in a case brought by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA).
COPA, a nonprofit group representing Bitcoin developers, sued Wright in 2021 to prevent him from claiming copyright over the Bitcoin whitepaper and from suing Bitcoin developers while posing as Nakamoto.
They sought a clear ruling that he was not Nakamoto. COPA is supported by influential figures like Twitter’s Jack Dorsey and cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase.
In March, James Mellor, the presiding judge, declared that Wright was not Nakamoto. In a May ruling, Mellor stated that Wright had lied extensively during the hearing. He recommended that U.K. authorities consider prosecuting Wright for perjury. This recommendation was documented in a filing today.
Judge Mellor has indicated in court documents that he intends to refer the case to the CPS. They will decide whether to prosecute Craig Wright for alleged perjury and forgery and will consider issuing a warrant for his arrest or pursuing extradition proceedings, depending on his current location.
Additionally, Mellor stated that the CPS should be contacted regarding the testimony of Stefan Matthews, one of Wright’s witnesses throughout the trial.
“So far as Mr. Matthews is concerned, it is true, as COPA submitted, that he has been a major player in Dr. Wright’s campaign to establish himself as Satoshi for many years, and in that capacity, has been a significant supporter and purveyor of that lie,” Mellor stated.
This development marks a significant turn in the ongoing saga of Wright’s claims to be the enigmatic founder of Bitcoin.
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