In a dramatic conclusion to a five-year legal saga, Craig Wright, the controversial figure who claims to be the elusive creator of Bitcoin, has dropped his lawsuit against a prominent Bitcoin enthusiast known as Hodlonaut.
The culmination of this lengthy dispute marks a significant victory for Hodlonaut and casts further doubt on Wright’s assertions regarding his identity as Satoshi Nakamoto.
The origins of this legal feud trace back to May 2019 when Wright filed a lawsuit against Hodlonaut over critical social media posts.
Hodlonaut, a Norwegian Bitcoiner, had publicly accused Wright of being a “scammer” and a “fraud” for his claims of creating Bitcoin. This sparked a contentious legal battle that spanned multiple years and jurisdictions.
Courtroom Showdown: Hodlonaut Emerges Victorious In Defamation Dispute
After a trial in Oslo in 2022, a Norwegian judge ruled in favor of Hodlonaut, concluding that there were substantial grounds to believe Wright had deceived in his attempts to prove his identity as Satoshi Nakamoto.
Just got off the phone with my Norwegian lawyer.
CRAIG WRIGHT DROPPED THE APPEAL IN NORWAY!
My win from 2022 is now final and enforceable.
This case started May 19th, 2019 and lasted until today.
I’m very happy!
Now I just need to get the UK case dismissed/won and I can…
— hodlonaut 80 IQ 10%er 🌮⚡🔑 🐝 (@hodlonaut) April 11, 2024
This decision provided Hodlonaut with a crucial legal victory and served as a preemptive measure against potential defamation proceedings that Wright might initiate in the United Kingdom.
Despite Wright’s appeal of the court’s ruling, nearly five years later, he has finally relented, dropping his pursuit of legal action against Hodlonaut.
This development underscores the resilience of Hodlonaut and the skepticism surrounding Wright’s claims within the Bitcoin community.
BTCUSD trading at $70,789 on the weekly chart: TradingView.com
COPA Triumph: Wright’s Whitepaper Ownership Claim Rejected
In a parallel legal battle, Craig Wright faced another setback as the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) challenged his claim of ownership over the Bitcoin whitepaper.
After rigorous scrutiny, a court ruled against Wright, decisively rejecting his assertion that he authored the foundational document of Bitcoin. This ruling dealt a significant blow to Wright’s credibility and further undermined his position as Satoshi Nakamoto.
Wright’s Bitcoin Saga: Norwegian Lawsuit Ends, But Scrutiny Remains
The resolution of these legal disputes comes amid ongoing speculation and skepticism surrounding Wright’s claims within the cryptocurrency community. While the conclusion of the lawsuit in Norway represents a victory for Hodlonaut, there remains a pending defamation case against him in the UK.
Despite this looming legal challenge, the outcome of the Norwegian case underscores the difficulty Wright faces in substantiating his claims and the growing scrutiny surrounding his alleged role in the creation of Bitcoin.
Featured image from BuyUcoin, chart from TradingView