Introduction

Bitcoin, the world's first and most popular cryptocurrency, has been shrouded in mystery since its inception in 2008. The identity of its creator, who used the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, has remained unknown, despite numerous claims and speculations. However, one person who has persistently claimed to be Nakamoto is Craig Wright, an Australian computer scientist and businessman. Wright's claim has been met with widespread skepticism and controversy, as he has failed to provide conclusive proof of his assertion. Now, Wright is facing a legal challenge from a group of crypto enthusiasts and developers, who are seeking to invalidate his claim and expose his alleged lies and forgeries.

The COPA vs. Wright Lawsuit

The group that is suing Wright is called the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), a non-profit organization that aims to protect the open-source nature of crypto and prevent patent abuse. COPA is backed by some of the leading figures and companies in the crypto space, such as Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, Square, Coinbase, Kraken, and Blockstream. COPA filed a lawsuit against Wright in London's High Court in April 2023, seeking a "negative declaration" that Wright is not Nakamoto, and that he does not own the copyright to the Bitcoin white paper and code.

The Bitcoin white paper, titled "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System", is the founding document of the cryptocurrency, which was published online in October 2008 under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. The white paper describes the basic principles and design of Bitcoin, such as the use of a decentralized network, a proof-of-work system, and a peer-to-peer protocol. The Bitcoin code, which implements the white paper's ideas, was released in January 2009, and the first Bitcoin transaction took place shortly after.

COPA's lawsuit is based on the premise that Wright's claim to be Nakamoto is a "brazen lie and elaborate false narrative supported by forgery on an industrial scale". COPA's lawyer, Jonathan Hough KC, told the court that Wright has consistently failed to supply genuine proof of his claim, and has instead proffered documents that bear clear signs of having been doctored. Hough also said that Wright's conduct was reminiscent of a "farce", and that he has used tools such as ChatGPT to produce forgeries.

One of the key pieces of evidence that COPA presented to the court was the fact that the original white paper was written on OpenOffice software, which was widely used at the time. However, the version that Wright provided was created on LaTeX, a software that did not exist when the white paper was written. Hough said that this was a "smoking gun" that proved Wright's deception.

Hough also said that Wright's claim has had "deadly serious" consequences for individuals who have faced legal action based on his claim. He said that Wright has pursued claims worth hundreds of billions of dollars, including against numerous private individuals. Hough said that COPA's lawsuit was not motivated by personal or financial interests, but by a desire to protect the integrity and innovation of the crypto community.

Wright's Defense

Wright's lawyer, Lord Grabiner KC, defended his client's claim, and said that he had released the white paper after "having spent many years devoted to studying and working on concepts underpinning Bitcoin". He said that Wright possessed "an unusual combination of multi-disciplinary talents" and extensive experience in the field, and that Nakamoto "uniquely brought these together" in the white paper.

Grabiner also said that there was "clear evidence" demonstrating Wright's creation of the digital currency, and that he had witnesses and documents to support his case. He said that Wright had used various pseudonyms and aliases to protect his identity and privacy, and that he had reasons to conceal his involvement in Bitcoin, such as threats and harassment.

Grabiner also challenged COPA's standing to bring the lawsuit, and said that the organization had no direct interest or connection to the white paper or the code. He said that COPA was merely a "busybody" that was trying to interfere with Wright's rights and reputation. He also said that COPA's lawsuit was an abuse of process, and that it was based on a "false premise" that the white paper and the code were in the public domain.

The Implications of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit between COPA and Wright is expected to last for several weeks, and the outcome could have significant implications for the crypto industry and community. If Wright wins the case, he could potentially assert his rights over the Bitcoin white paper and code, and demand royalties or damages from anyone who uses or copies them. He could also use his victory to bolster his claim to be Nakamoto, and to promote his own version of Bitcoin, called Bitcoin SV, which he claims to be the true Bitcoin.

If COPA wins the case, it could effectively end Wright's claim to be Nakamoto, and expose his alleged fraud and forgery. It could also reaffirm the open-source and collaborative nature of Bitcoin, and prevent Wright from interfering with the development and innovation of the crypto space. It could also encourage more people to challenge Wright's claim, and to seek the truth about the real identity of Nakamoto.

Conclusion

The lawsuit between COPA and Wright is a landmark case that could determine the fate of Bitcoin, and the legacy of its mysterious creator. The case is not only a legal battle, but also a philosophical and ideological one, that reflects the different visions and values of the crypto community. The case is also a test of the evidence and the arguments of both sides, and the ability of the court to assess them. The case is likely to attract a lot of attention and scrutiny, as the world awaits the verdict of the court, and the answer to the question: who is the real Satoshi Nakamoto?