Craig Wright, an Australian computer scientist who claims to have invented Bitcoin, is now under investigation for perjury.
This development comes after a judge in London’s High Court determined that Wright lied extensively to bolster his assertion of being the pseudonymous Bitcoin creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
Judge James Mellor found the evidence against Wright overwhelming during a case initiated by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA).
COPA sought to prevent Wright from suing Bitcoin developers based on his claims.
In a decisive ruling, Judge Mellor stated that Wright’s repeated and extensive lies warranted a referral to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for possible perjury charges.
“If Wright’s conduct did not warrant a referral to the Crown Prosecution Service, it is difficult to envisage a case which would,” said Judge Mellor in his written ruling.
The judge indicated that the seriousness of Wright’s actions might lead to prosecution for perjury and forgery of documents.
There is also a possibility of an arrest warrant or extradition, depending on Wright’s current location.
Wright has long maintained that he authored the 2008 Bitcoin whitepaper under the alias Satoshi Nakamoto.
However, Judge Mellor’s ruling in March dismissed these claims, citing overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
The fallout from this decision has been significant, with Wright’s credibility facing severe scrutiny.
Amid these legal troubles, Wright’s billionaire supporter, Calvin Ayre, announced his departure from social media platform X to embark on a long-planned adventure. This announcement came just a day after the High Court ruled against Wright.
