Australian computer scientist Craig Wright, who claims to be Bitcoin’s creator Satoshi Nakamoto, has dropped his appeal in a Norwegian defamation case against well-known Bitcoiner Hodlonaut (Marcus Granath). The legal dispute originated from derogatory social media posts made by Granath in March 2019, referring to Wright as a “fraud,” “mentally ill,” and a “pathetic scammer.” Wright responded by filing a defamation lawsuit in the U.K., while Granath pursued legal action in Norway. In October 2022, a Norwegian court ruled in Granath’s favor, stating that Wright lacked sufficient evidence to verify his claim of being Satoshi Nakamoto. Following this decision, Wright dropped his appeal in Norway, marking a victory for Granath.
Marcus Granath expressed his happiness on social media upon learning about Wright’s decision to drop the appeal in Norway. Granath’s initial legal battle with Wright began in May 2019 and concluded with the recent development. Despite this win in Norway, Granath still faces Wright’s ongoing libel lawsuit against him in the U.K. It remains uncertain when or if the two parties will return to court for this case. Granath’s legal victory in Norway comes after a series of contentious lawsuits and public disputes that have cast doubt on Wright’s claims of being the creator of Bitcoin.
In addition to the Norwegian legal case and his ongoing lawsuit in the U.K., Craig Wright faced another setback when London’s High Court ruled against him following a case filed by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA). The court found that Wright had repeatedly lied about his identity as Satoshi Nakamoto and falsely claimed to be the inventor of Bitcoin. The COPA’s challenge to Wright’s claims ultimately led to a judgment which debunked his assertions. The court ruling marked a significant blow to Wright’s credibility and reputation in the cryptocurrency community.
Following the High Court ruling in London, a linguistic analysis raised the possibility that Satoshi Nakamoto—the pseudonymous founder of Bitcoin—could be a collective group rather than an individual. This revelation added another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate surrounding Wright’s claim of being Nakamoto. In response to the ruling and subsequent developments, Judge James Mellor froze Wright’s assets as a precautionary measure after he attempted to transfer shares of his London firm to a Singapore-based entity. The decision to freeze Wright’s assets was aimed at preventing him from evading financial penalties related to the case.
Overall, the legal saga involving Craig Wright, Marcus Granath, and the Crypto Open Patent Alliance highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto and the origins of Bitcoin. Wright’s failed appeal in Norway, coupled with the High Court ruling in London, have raised doubts about his credibility as the true creator of Bitcoin. The ongoing legal battles and public scrutiny faced by Wright underscore the challenges in proving one’s identity in the often opaque world of cryptocurrency. As the debate continues, the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains a mystery, with competing claims and theories adding to the intrigue and uncertainty surrounding the iconic digital currency.
