Australian Computer Scientist Denies Forging Documents in Bitcoin Ownership Battle
Correcting Typographical Error
By Sam Tobin
Legal Battle Over Bitcoin Ownership
An Australian computer scientist, claiming to have invented bitcoin, denied allegations of forging documents in a London court on Tuesday. He is entangled in a legal battle over ownership of the cryptocurrency.
Disputed Claim
Craig Wright, who asserts to be the author of the 2008 white paper that underpins bitcoin, published under the name “Satoshi Nakamoto”, is at the center of the controversy.
Challenging Wright’s Claim
The Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) has taken Wright to court to prevent him from suing bitcoin developers and to safeguard the open-source nature of the cryptocurrency. COPA seeks a ruling from London’s High Court to disprove Wright’s self-proclaimed identity as Satoshi Nakamoto, alleging that he has repeatedly forged documents to substantiate his claim.
Denial of Allegations
Wright, however, refutes the accusations, placing the blame on former lawyers and associates for any inauthentic documents. He is now presenting his evidence in what is a high-stakes hearing at the heart of the long-standing mystery surrounding the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto.
Challenging Questions
During the proceedings, Wright was asked if he had ever forged or falsified a document to support his claim, to which he replied in the negative. He also denied knowingly presenting any forged documents.
Alleged Forgeries
Several alleged forgeries were presented to Wright, including a handwritten academic paper that he claims prompted his decision to adopt the name Satoshi Nakamoto. COPA asserts that the document contains a forged timestamp to make it appear as if it predates the bitcoin white paper.
Emphatic Defense
When accused of forging the document, Wright staunchly denied it, asserting that if he had done so, it would have been flawless.
