Craig Wright, who claims to be the creator of Bitcoin, has presented a non-negotiable settlement, potentially ending the contentious legal battle over the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s pseudonymous founder.
Bitcoin’s Alleged Creator Proposes Settlement Amidst Forged Document Allegations
Craig Wright, the self-proclaimed inventor of Bitcoin, has made a public, non-negotiable settlement offer to the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), Coinbase, Kraken, and the Bitcoin Core developers, amid a heated legal battle concerning the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin.
In October 2023, Wright submitted new evidence, which he alleged supported his claim, including a “Bitcoin White Paper” and a 2007 computer “time capsule.” However, a revelation emerged from expert witnesses for both COPA and Wright, who agreed that these documents were recent forgeries.
Both parties’ forensic experts concluded that the Bitcoin white paper, purportedly written in Latex, was actually produced in Openoffice, and could not have been created before 2009. Similarly, the “time capsule” file, claimed to be from 2007, showed evidence of editing in September 2023, undermining Wright’s assertions. Additionally, a deleted file suggested the use of Chatgpt in fabricating part of the evidence.
With the trial set to commence on Feb. 5, 2024, Wright proposed a settlement that could end multiple lawsuits involving COPA, Coinbase, Kraken, and BTC Core. The offer stipulates that these entities acknowledge Bitcoin’s original purpose as outlined in the white paper, cease claims of representing the original Bitcoin, and ensure Bitcoin’s use for the benefit of humanity and in compliance with laws against illicit activities. In return, Wright agrees not to pursue claims related to his database rights and copyrights in the BTC, BCH, and ABC blockchains.
Wright’s proposal, detailed in a post on his blog, emphasized his desire to refocus on family and the development of blockchain technology, particularly Bitcoin Satoshi Vision (BSV). He reiterated his commitment to the original principles of Bitcoin and expressed his intention to foster a competitive market where intellectual property rights are respected.
This offer, made just weeks before the trial, could be seen as a strategic move by Wright, signaling lack of confidence in his evidence. However, the acceptance of the settlement by COPA and other parties seems unlikely.
Hard pass on that “settlement.”
Just like Craig Wright forges documents and doesn’t quite tell the truth, his description of the settlement offer isn’t quite accurate either – it comes with loopholes that would allow him to sue people all over again.
— COPA (@opencryptoorg) January 24, 2024
If rejected, the trial will proceed, potentially leading to a decisive court ruling on Wright’s claim to be Satoshi Nakamoto.
Given the current news, what are the odds that Wright will be successful? Share your thoughts and opinions about this subject in the comments section below.
