Craig Wright is not Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, UK judge says

The ruling comes after a month-long trial between COPA and Wright

article-image

Istvan Csak/Shutterstock modified by Blockworks

share

Craig Wright is not Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, a judge ruled on Thursday.

The Crypto Open Patent Alliance notched the victory against Wright in a UK court. 

According to a COPA spokesperson, Justice James Mellor — who oversaw the case — declared that Wright isn’t the author of the Bitcoin white paper, never operated under Nakamoto’s pseudonym, didn’t create Bitcoin, and didn’t author the original versions of the network. 

“Any further relief will be dealt with in my written judgment. I will extend time for filing any appellant’s notice until 21 days after the form of order hearing, which will be appointed following the hand down of my written judgment,” Mellor told the court. 

Read more: 13 years ago, Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator signed off

The findings wrap up a month-long trial, which commenced initially back in February and put to rest a legal fight that COPA began in 2021. 

The organization hoped to prevent Wright from taking further legal actions against members of both the crypto and developer communities.

“This decision is a win for developers, for the entire open source community and for the truth. For over eight years, Dr. Wright and his financial backers have lied about his identity as Satoshi Nakamoto and used that lie to bully and intimidate developers in the Bitcoin community. That ends today with the court’s ruling that Craig Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto,” a COPA spokesperson told Blockworks in an email.

Read more: Craig Wright not defamed by being called ‘a fraud,’ Judge rules

Mellor, according to a news alert from COPA, found the evidence against Wright “overwhelming.”

Across crypto, industry participants and commentators weighed in on the decision. 

Satoshi understood the value of decentralization and built Bitcoin so that it could not be controlled by a single person or entity,” a Kraken spokesperson told Blockworks. “We’re pleased the court recognized the overwhelming evidence that categorically settles that Wright is not Satoshi.”

Block and Twitter founder Jack Dorsey simply posted “W” on X to show his support. 

Loading Tweet..

Coinbase’s chief legal officer Paul Grewal said that the court ruled “definitively and without qualification.”

Grewal also called on Wright to apologize to “every developer, builder and BTC community member whom you harassed and bullied with your lies and false demands.”

Loading Tweet..

COPA’s members include Block, Coinbase, MicroStrategy and Kraken. Wright previously filed suits against Block, Kraken and Coinbase.  


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Javits Center North | 445 11th Ave

Tues - Thurs, March 24 - 26, 2026

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Unlocked by Template (1).jpg

Research

As AI supercharges surveillance, privacy becomes a prerequisite and the winning stack will combine confidentiality with selective disclosure. Zcash’s Tachyon, composable standards on Ethereum/Solana, and compliance-aware pools aim to make private rails the new norm.

article-image

Swiss regulator Gespa is assessing whether FIFA’s tokenized ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup violate gambling laws

by Blockworks /
article-image

The deal gives Ondo Finance SEC-registered broker-dealer, ATS, and transfer agent licenses to operate regulated tokenized securities markets

by Blockworks /
article-image

Ethereum and Solana funds mark industry first as Grayscale adds staking to spot crypto products

by Blockworks /
article-image

US bitcoin ETFs that seen more than $2.2 billion of net inflows over the last four trading days

by Blockworks /
article-image

More than 75 million U.S. Galaxy owners gain integrated Coinbase One access through Samsung Wallet, with global rollout planned

by Blockworks /
article-image

The central bank signed agreements with firms for fraud, payments, and app services ahead of a potential launch

by Blockworks /