Craig Wright, the Australian computer scientist who claims to be Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, has been found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. The ruling came after Wright initiated a £900 billion intellectual property legal claim, which triggered the contempt charge, according to The Independent.
The sentencing was handed down on Thursday, with Wright appearing via video link but refusing to disclose his physical location. He stated his intention to appeal the court’s decision, The Guardian reported.
The legal saga stems from a case brought against Wright in April by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), which sought to prevent him from asserting copyright claims over the Bitcoin whitepaper and database. In March, a U.K. judge ruled that Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto, dealing a blow to his long-standing claims.
Two key figures involved in Bitcoin’s early development, including Adam Back, a pioneer of Bitcoin’s proof-of-work consensus system, testified during the trial. Their testimonies further challenged Wright’s assertion of being the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin.
The real identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains unknown, but estimates suggest Nakamoto could own up to 1.1 million Bitcoin. This comes as the price of Bitcoin recently surged to an all-time high of $106,000, according to Arkham.
Wright’s ongoing legal battles have drawn significant attention from the crypto community, with many viewing his claims as dubious. His appeal of the contempt ruling is expected to continue the high-profile legal drama.
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