A computer scientist testified in a London court on Tuesday, claiming to be the mysterious creator of bitcoin. The trial, which began on Monday, aims to settle the debate over the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous figure behind the cryptocurrency. Australian computer scientist Craig Wright asserts that he is Nakamoto, while a nonprofit group called the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) is attempting to prove otherwise.
According to COPA’s attorney, Wright’s claim is a lie supported by forged documents. The outcome of the trial will not only determine the bragging rights to the creation of bitcoin but also control over the intellectual property rights associated with it. Wright has used his claim as bitcoin’s inventor to file lawsuits and obstruct further development of the open-source technology.
COPA argues that Wright’s litigation tactics have targeted volunteer developers, leading to threats of bankruptcy and notices of intent to sue. They claim that his assertion of being the founder of bitcoin is baseless.
The origins of bitcoin remain murky since Nakamoto disappeared in 2011, but speculation about the true identity behind the pseudonym has persisted. Wright first surfaced in 2016, claiming to be Nakamoto, but then retreated, citing a lack of courage to provide additional proof.
In court, Wright stated that he created bitcoin and constructed the cryptic identity to maintain his privacy. He explained that he combined the surname of philosopher Tominaga Nakamoto with the names Satoshi David and a Pokemon character to form his pseudonym.
Wright’s defense lawyer argued that COPA had not presented any positive evidence contradicting Wright’s claim to be Nakamoto and had only attempted to undermine the authenticity of his documents. He added that if Wright were not Satoshi, another claimant with credibility would have emerged.
While Wright convinced some influential figures in the bitcoin community by demonstrating Nakamoto’s secret bitcoin keys, other experts in the field disputed his claims. Despite skepticism, Wright has previously won court cases supporting his assertion.
An example includes a civil case in Florida earlier this year, where Wright was deemed to be the owner of 1.1 million bitcoins worth around $47.5 billion today. Wright and other cryptocurrency experts testified that he indeed possessed the bitcoin in question.
The London trial has focused on the authenticity of documents presented by Wright. COPA’s attorney claimed that the original bitcoin white paper was written using OpenOffice software, while Wright submitted a version produced on software called LaTeX, which did not exist when the paper was written. The attorney also highlighted numerical inconsistencies in the document as potential signs of forgery.
The trial will continue with Wright’s further testimony, and a judge will eventually rule on the matter. The outcome will have significant implications for the future development and ownership of bitcoin and may settle the debate surrounding its enigmatic founder once and for all.
