Self-proclaimed bitcoin inventor faces criminal probe

Craig Wright had long claimed to have been the author of a 2008 white paper, the foundational text of bitcoin, published under the pseudonym "Satoshi Nakamoto"

An Australian computer scientist who claimed he invented bitcoin faces a criminal investigation in the UK for alleged perjury after he was found to have repeatedly lied and forged documents to support his false claim.

Craig Wright had long claimed to have been the author of a 2008 white paper, the foundational text of bitcoin, published under the pseudonym "Satoshi Nakamoto".

The 54-year-old brought litigation based on his claim around the world, culminating in a trial at London's High Court earlier in 2024.

The Crypto Open Patent Alliance – whose members include Twitter founder Jack Dorsey's payments company Block took Wright to court to stop him suing bitcoin developers.

Judge James Mellor ruled in March that the evidence Wright was not Satoshi was "overwhelming", stating in a written judgment in May that Wright lied "extensively and repeatedly" and forged documents "on a grand scale" during the case.

The judge said in a further ruling on Tuesday that he was referring Wright to Britain's Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether a prosecution should be commenced against Dr Wright for his wholescale perjury and forgery of documents.

Mellor also said that prosecutors should consider whether a warrant for his arrest should be issued and/or whether his extradition should be sought from wherever he now is.

Wright denied forging documents when he gave evidence in February and said in May that he intended to seek permission to appeal.

His current whereabouts are unknown and Mellor said in Tuesday's ruling: The evidence shows that Dr Wright has left his previous residence in Wimbledon (in London), seems to have left the UK, has been said to be travelling and was last established to be in the time zone of UTC +7.

The time zone includes locations in southeast Asia and Russia's Siberia.