Craig Wright Court Hearing: COPA Accuses Would-be Satoshi Nakamoto of Perjury

Key Takeaways

• A court hearing to determine whether Craig Wright is Satoshi Nakamoto will conclude this week.
• The Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) has accused Wright of lying throughout the proceedings.
• After judgment, COPA said it would refer the case to prosecutors who could charge Wright with perjury and perverting the course of justice.

After more than a month, the UK court hearing to determine the veracity of Craig Wright’s claim that he invented Bitcoin has entered the final stretch.

During closing statements this week, the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) reiterated its accusations of forgery and accused Wright of lying to the court throughout the proceedings.

Craig Wright vs. COPA Close to Finish Line

Since the court case started in February, COPA’s lawyer Jonathan Hough has attempted to depict Wright as a serial forger and unreliable witness.

During cross-examination, Hough interrogated Wright’s account of events. He forced Wright to defend the authenticity of evidence he had presented in support of his claim.

In the weeks that followed, COPA’s strategy has remained the same. Document by document, Hough attempted to expose Wright’s evidence as forgeries in a bid to discredit his version of events and undermine his credibility.

COPA to Refer Case to Prosecutors

In a closing statement , COPA lawyers said: 

“Dr Wright’s claim to be Satoshi is a lie, founded on an elaborate false narrative and backed by forgery of documents on an industrial scale. As his false documents and inconsistencies have been exposed, he has resorted to further forgery and ever more implausible excuses.”

“Dr Wright’s conduct is no laughing matter,” it continues, accusing him of attempting “a very serious fraud upon the Court.”

Given the seriousness of these allegations, “COPA will ask after judgment that the papers be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration of prosecution for the offenses of perjury and perverting the course of justice.”

When Will Judge Rule on Craig Wright Satoshi Claim?

With Wright’s legal team delivering their closing remarks on Wednesday, COPA will have a chance to rebut on Thursday. Meanwhile, the hearing itself wraps up on Friday.

The judge overseeing the case, James Mellor, has not yet said when his decision will be out. If he sides with COPA, Wright could still appeal the decision. However, there is no guarantee the courts would hear any such appeal.

Next Steps 

First, Mr Justice Mellor will decide whether Craig Wright’s claim has any legal merit. After that, the judge will be able to turn his attention to lawsuits Wright filed against several prominent COPA members.

Because the outcome of those cases would depend on the legal standing of Wright’s claim, they have been placed on hold while the court determines whether or not Wright is, as he claims, Satoshi Nakamoto.

About the Author

James Morales

Although his background is in crypto and FinTech news, these days, James likes to roam across CCN’s editorial breadth, focusing mostly on digital technology. Having always been fascinated by the latest innovations, he uses his platform as a journalist to explore how new technologies work, why they matter and how they might shape our future.

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