Emily Walker
Reports indicate that Craig Wright missed his court appearance in the UK today, citing insufficient resources for travel. The Australian computer scientist is currently embroiled in a contempt of court case stemming from his lawsuit against Bitcoin Core developers, which could potentially lead to a prison sentence if he is found in violation.
Ongoing Legal Tensions Between COPA and Wright
On Wednesday, Craig Wright, known for claiming to be the inventor of Bitcoin, was supposed to attend a hearing at the Royal Court of Justice in London related to a contempt of court case against him.
Attendees revealed that he did not show up due to a “lack of means for travel.” An email from Wright, as referenced in a transcription shared by BitMEX Research, confirmed his absence.
The Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance (COPA) filed a contempt application in response to Wright’s $1.2 billion lawsuit targeting Bitcoin Core Developers and Jack Dorsey’s Square Up European Ltd in October.
In their application, COPA contended that Wright violated an injunction from the main Bitcoin authorship lawsuit, which required him to acknowledge that he is not Satoshi Nakamoto and to stop any further lawsuits related to his disputed claims of authorship.
During a hearing in early November, Wright denied these allegations, asserting that his current legal action is fundamentally distinct from any identity claims, as it focuses on his contributions to Bitcoin’s development and maintenance.
Representing himself in the lawsuit, Wright denied being in contempt but expressed willingness to modify his case if the court deemed his actions a breach of the injunction.
Wright claims that the Bitcoin Core developers misrepresented Bitcoin, advocating for Bitcoin SV (BSV) as the true version of the cryptocurrency.
Judge Mellor has paused Wright’s lawsuit until the contempt matter is clarified, with a hearing scheduled for December 18. It was noted that Wright needed to be present, as he previously joined a session via video from Singapore.
In a follow-up hearing, the court mandated that Wright return to the UK for today’s proceedings.
COPA Seeks a Two-Year Sentence in the Case Against Bitcoin Core
Jonathan Hough, representing COPA, indicated that the organization was willing to cover Wright’s travel costs, but he declined, arguing that it wouldn’t compensate for his business losses.
Hough remarked, “This is the first time CSW has claimed he cannot afford to travel. Previously, he managed to pay around £10 million in cost orders, so skepticism is warranted regarding this latest assertion.”
Wright communicated that he would require £240,000 to address both travel and business losses:
The total comes to £240,000. Due to COCA’s actions, my operations are impaired. Even with this support, I wouldn’t be able to function properly or travel feasibly for any obligations.
Hough requested a 2-year sentence, with an additional 6 months if Wright does not retract his new claim, suggesting that he is avoiding the jurisdiction to escape consequences.
Following Wright’s absence, Judge James Mellor of the British High Court decided to continue the hearing, with a ruling set to be announced on Thursday, December 19 at 2 pm UK time. The judge also instructed COPA’s legal team to invite Wright to the sentencing.