Following a damning trial in the High Court, earlier in 2024 and the verdict from Justice Mellor that Craig Wright’s claims to be the Bitcoin creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, were confirmed fabricated, the accuser, turned defendant is now to face charges of contempt of court. These charges could lead to his prosecution by the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) and subsequent imprisonment.
As a background to the case, Craig Wright claimed that he authored the Bitcoin whitepaper, was the owner of the bitcoin domain and was the rightful creator. He claimed copyright alongside a claim to over 1,000,000 of Bitcoin belonging to the real Satoshi. His claim if successful would have made him one of the richest people in the world, with the total value running into trillion dollars. As such this is recorded as possibly the largest attempted heist in history.
And while it remains to be seen what the court decides, the big question before the hearing starts, is if Craig Wright will appear in the hearing at all, or not. Recent social media polls have revealed public sentiment being on the side of a no-show. However opinions are as always divided.
A strong show of Bitcoin advocates is expected at court. Many important figures long involved with this case such as Arthur Van Pelt and Mark Hunter of Dr Bitcoin Podcast fame, David Pearce and many others are expected to be present as the verdict is handed out. All hopeful that Craig Wright will see fit punishment for his relentless legal persecution of innocent people in the Bitcoin space. The true attempted hijacking of Bitcoin.
Apart from the legal players such as Bird & Bird and Justice Mellor, Craig Wright’s new defense could be present, if he had one, alongside some of his supporters.
This session will hopefully bring a conclusion to the Satoshi Nakamoto “identity case” where earlier this year, Craig Wright was found to have lied and fabricated evidence to prove his claims.
The Proceedings
As expected, Craig Wright failed to appear in court today, claiming financial hardship as his excuse. Irony hard to ignore given his penchant for suing individuals and companies for billions in damages.
The Royal Courts of Justice, an imposing gothic maze of a building, set a fitting stage for this farcical drama. Room 72, filled to the brim, was reminiscent of a library with its walls of law books, but for the judge’s presence, the wigs, and the Royal emblem looming behind him.
The vibe was eerily similar to Wright’s original trial, albeit less dramatic due to his conspicuous absence. You don’t want to be in this building accused of anything. It kind of feels like you’ve already lost as you enter. No wonder CSW, who has a history of dodging accountability, didn’t show up. Much like he did in Australia when trouble came knocking.
Bird & Bird, representing the claimants, wasted no time dissecting CSW’s pattern of behavior: a man who habitually sues for billions of dollars while crying poverty when it’s his turn to face the music. The irony was not lost on anyone.
The proceedings quickly turned into what everyone suspected. A foregone conclusion. Bird & Bird made their case clear: Craig Wright remains in contempt of court. The real question is whether the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will pursue Wright’s prosecution and begin extradition proceedings.
Wright’s repeated attempts to fraudulently assert he is Satoshi Nakamoto and claim copyright over the decentralized Bitcoin blockchain were at the center of the arguments. Bird & Bird described his assertions as “legal nonsense on multiple levels”. The barrister’s sharp delivery drew quiet laughter from the room, a subtle acknowledgment of how absurd Wright’s claims have become.
The barrister also highlighted how Wright’s latest, audacious claim for a trillion dollars still clings to the false narrative that he is Bitcoin’s creator. This pattern of delusion and litigation was pointed out as the heart of the matter: Craig Wright’s claims are categorically untrue, as previously ruled.
In an amusing turn, Bird & Bird read aloud a statement from Wright, submitted after the hearing began. In it, CSW claimed he could not afford to travel, estimating his losses from attending the hearing to exceed $300,000 in contract value. But contract for whom?
The absurdity of this excuse was palpable, especially since Wright was simultaneously active on social media, insulting his critics as the court debated his contempt. “Busy indeed then,” one observer quipped. The judge couldn’t help but crack a rare smile when the barrister pointed out Wright’s contradictory statements and his relentless pursuit of legal battles grounded in nothing but fiction.
Wright’s claims to Bitcoin copyright are not just legally absurd but fundamentally misunderstand the very nature of Bitcoin. A decentralized system without a central author. His inability to grasp this essential fact underscores his irrelevance to the Bitcoin community and the technology itself.
The court proceedings today were procedural, but their implications are significant. CSW’s legal warfare, grounded in his fraudulent claims, is finally catching up to him. The walls are closing in, and the world is, quite literally, getting smaller for Craig Wright.
KC Hough demanded 2 years in prison and it is very likely that the judge tomorrow will grant his wish.
Arthur’s Take
In a scathing opinion shared on social media, well-known Bitcoiner and long-time Craig Wright critic Arthur Van Pelt pulled no punches when commenting on Wright’s absence from the contempt hearing. Wright claimed “a lack of means to travel” as his excuse, notifying Bird & Bird just one hour before proceedings began.
According to Van Pelt, COPA (the Crypto Open Patent Alliance) swiftly stepped in and offered to cover Wright’s travel costs, and even his alleged business losses. Yet, at that point, Wright stopped responding altogether. Justice Mellor, unimpressed, chose to proceed in Wright’s absence, rejecting any suggestion of a video link to prevent rewarding his no-show behavior.
The real bombshell, as Van Pelt highlighted, came from COPA’s KC Hough, who declared:
“Only a custodial sentence meets the seriousness of Wright’s contempt. Up to two years in prison, 18 months unconditionally.”
Van Pelt observed that Wright’s subsequent actions, including sending yet another “lame excuse” email after the hearing had started, made it abundantly clear: Wright has no intention of returning to the UK. His mockery of the court culminated in a comment so brazen it almost defies belief:
“Even if you pay me £240,000 covering all my costs for the upcoming six months, I’m not coming to the UK.”
Van Pelt summed it up with his signature sharpness, painting Wright as being “on the run like a lowlife criminal.” With Justice Mellor set to write his verdict and deliver it the following day, Van Pelt’s opinion leaves little doubt: Craig Wright’s contempt of court has reached new heights, and the walls are closing in.
The Fate of Faketoshi
There’s no doubt in the courtroom that these proceedings will go against Wright. The only question remaining is whether the authorities will act decisively. Prosecution and extradition seem increasingly likely. If Wright hoped his absence would mitigate the consequences, he miscalculated. His failure to appear only adds to the evidence against him.
As Bird & Bird wrapped up their arguments, the tone in the courtroom was clear: Craig Wright is toast.
For now, the saga continues, but Wright’s days of evasion and litigious nonsense appear numbered. While he hides behind excuses and tweets from afar, the courts are finally catching up. The self-proclaimed “Satoshi” has nowhere left to run.
P.S. The main image in this article is not a real photo and has been created using AI.
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- Lucy Walker covers finance, health and beauty since 2014. She has been writing for various online publications.
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