A computer expert has landed himself in court after claiming he was the man who invented Bitcoin.
Dr Craig Wright claimed he is the person who founded the cryptocurrency, often referred to as the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto.
However, he has been taken to court by Crypto Open Patent Alliance (Copa), for his claims. Copa is suing Dr Wright as they allege he created an “elaborate false narrative” and forged documents to suggest he was Satoshi. The non-profit group also claimed he “terrorized” anyone who doubted him.
The scientist has denied the allegations and has been seen attending court at the beginning of the trial believed to last around five weeks. The Australian native first claimed to be Satoshi back in 2016, and many have questioned his identity ever since.
Jonathan Hough KC, representing Copa, told the court Dr Wright’s claim “is a brazen lie and elaborate false narrative supported by forgery on an industrial scale”.
He added the defendant “failed” to supply proof he was Satoshi, and claims he repeatedly “offered documents which bear clear signs of having been doctored”.
In 2008, the original Bitcoin founding document was released under Satoshi’s name. Mr Hough further claimed Dr Wright used artificial intelligence technology platforms, such as ChatGPT, to forge documents when he felt a time crunch.
Both sides of the court called in experts who agreed the founding document, called Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System, was written on OpenOffice software. However, the version provided by Dr Wright was created by LaTeZX software. It did not exist back in 2008, Mr Hough said.
Dr Wright’s barrister, Lord Grabiner KC said he released the white paper after spending “many years devoted” to studying concepts “underpinning Bitcoin”. He argued there was “clear evidence” he created Bitcoin.
One of his arguments is if Dr Wright wasn’t who he said he was, the “real Satoshi would have been expected to come forward to counter the claim”.
Dr Wright is expected to give evidence from Tuesday, with the trial being heard in front of Mr Justice Mellor.
