Australian Computer Scientist Denies Forging Documents in Bitcoin Ownership Battle
Self-proclaimed Bitcoin inventor refutes claims of forging documents
An Australian computer scientist claiming to have invented bitcoin denied allegations of forging documents in a legal battle over ownership of the cryptocurrency. The scientist, Craig Wright, asserts that he authored the foundational text of bitcoin, published under the pseudonym “Satoshi Nakamoto”.
Crypto Open Patent Alliance takes legal action against Wright
The Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) has taken Wright to court to prevent him from suing bitcoin developers and to preserve the open-source nature of the cryptocurrency. COPA is seeking a ruling from London’s High Court to declare that Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto, alleging that he repeatedly forged documents to substantiate his claim.
Wright denies reliance on fake records
Despite COPA’s accusations, Wright denies relying on fake records and has instead blamed others, including former lawyers and associates, for any inauthentic documents. The 54-year-old began the first of six days of evidence at a high-stakes hearing, marking the climax of years of speculation about the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto.
Challenges to Wright’s claims
During the hearing, COPA’s lawyer, Jonathan Hough, confronted Wright with multiple alleged forgeries, including an academic paper with handwritten notes that Wright claimed prompted his decision to use the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Hough contends that the document contains a forged timestamp with visibly different fonts to make it appear as if it pre-dates the bitcoin white paper.
Wright’s response to the allegations
Despite the allegations, Wright maintains his innocence, asserting that he did not forge the document and adding, “If I forged that document, it would be perfect.”
