Craig Wright, the Australian computer scientist who claims to be Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, has dropped his appeal in a Norwegian defamation case against Marcus Granath, also known as Hodlonaut. Granath had initially posted derogatory comments about Wright on social media, leading to a legal battle between the two. The case began in May 2019 and concluded with a ruling in Granath’s favor in October 2022, stating that Wright had insufficient evidence to prove he was Satoshi Nakamoto. Granath celebrated his victory on social media, expressing his happiness with the outcome.
Following the Norwegian court ruling, Wright’s failed appeal in Norway coincided with the London High Court’s decision to reject his claim of being Satoshi Nakamoto. The court found that Wright had lied about being the creator of Bitcoin and had used this false claim to intimidate the Bitcoin community for over eight years. The Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) challenged Wright’s claims, leading to the court’s ruling that he is not Satoshi Nakamoto. Additionally, a linguistic analysis suggested that Satoshi Nakamoto’s writing may be the work of a collective group, rather than an individual.
In response to the court ruling, COPA posted a statement on social media highlighting Wright’s deception and the impact it had on the Bitcoin community. The freezing of Wright’s assets by UK Judge James Mellor further exacerbated the situation, as Wright had attempted to transfer shares of his London firm to a Singapore-based entity in an alleged attempt to evade financial penalties related to the case. Despite these legal setbacks, Wright’s original defamation lawsuit against Granath remains ongoing in the UK, leaving the outcome of that case uncertain.
Granath’s victory in the Norwegian defamation case represents a significant milestone in the legal battle between him and Craig Wright. The court’s ruling in Granath’s favor, coupled with the rejection of Wright’s appeal, further undermines Wright’s claims of being Satoshi Nakamoto and exposes his dishonesty to the public. The legal proceedings and the subsequent court rulings serve as a cautionary tale about the importance of truth and honesty in the cryptocurrency community, especially when it comes to the identity of Bitcoin’s elusive creator.
Moving forward, the implications of these legal developments could have far-reaching consequences for Craig Wright’s reputation and credibility within the cryptocurrency industry. The court rulings against him and the freezing of his assets indicate a significant blow to his standing in the community. As the legal battles continue, it remains to be seen how Wright’s claims and actions will impact his future involvement in the cryptocurrency space and whether he will face additional legal repercussions for his false claims and attempts to evade justice. Ultimately, the resolution of these cases will have a lasting impact on the perception of Craig Wright and his role in the history of Bitcoin.
