Craig Wright, The Programmer Who tried Rewriting Himself

In the fast-moving world of cryptocurrency, few stories are as gripping — or as shocking — as the tale of Craig Wright. He is an Australian computer scientist who boldly claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin. Wright’s journey is one of deception, ambition, and legal battles. What started as whispers and speculation turned into one of the biggest fraud scandals in tech history. This is also the story of how most of the cryptocurrency community saw through the lies, fought back, and exposed the truth.

The Man Behind the Mask

Wright was born in Brisbane, Australia, in 1970. He built an impressive background in computer science and cybersecurity. He had multiple degrees and worked in various tech fields, gaining solid knowledge about blockchain technology — the foundation of Bitcoin. This expertise gave him credibility when he stepped into the public eye with his bag full of lies. 

During his initial crypto journey, Wright understood something fundamental about the crypto community: they desperately wanted to solve the mystery of Satoshi, the pseudonymous creator who had baffled the world since Bitcoin’s launch in 2009. Wright saw this vacuum and thought, “”What’s stopping me from being Satoshi?”

Building False Foundations With No Remorse 

And so commenced a path paved with deception upon deception.

In 2015, Wright made his first move. He didn’t burst onto the scene claiming to be Satoshi, as that would’ve been too obvious. Instead, he started weaving a careful web of hints and suggestions, letting others connect the dots. Wright cultivated relationships with prominent crypto figures, dropped comments about Bitcoin’s early development, and gradually increased the intensity of his white lie. 

The strategy worked brilliantly. Media outlets began speculating about his possible connection to Bitcoin’s creation. The crypto community buzzed with rumors and speculations. Just in a matter of time, Wright successfully inserted himself into Bitcoin’s story of origin without even making explicit claims.

Even Gavin Andresen, one of the original Bitcoin developers and someone who had communicated with Satoshi, initially supported Wright’s claim. Andresen even wrote that he had been “convinced beyond a reasonable doubt.” 

By the time Wright stepped forward in 2016 to claim he was Satoshi, he had already constructed what he believed to be a convincing narrative. He presented what appeared to be cryptographic evidence, technical documents, and detailed knowledge of Bitcoin’s development. To casual observers, Wright’s case seemed compelling.

The Huge Factory of Lies and Deception 

Wright didn’t just forge a few documents — he constructed an entire alternate reality. He created hundreds of fake emails, backdated blog posts, and manipulated technical records. He even generated cryptographic signatures that he claimed proved access to Satoshi’s private keys. Elaborate stories were crafted about Bitcoin’s development, casting himself as the brilliant mastermind behind the revolutionary technology.

Beyond producing forged documents, he introduced Bitcoin SV (Satoshi’s Vision), asserting that it represented the authentic realization of his vision for Bitcoin. He also established nChain, a company that filed numerous blockchain patents as part of his strategy to control key cryptocurrency technologies legally.

He tried his best to cultivate a public image that cast him as a hesitant genius, reluctantly stepping into the limelight. This carefully chosen role echoed the enigma that had always shrouded Satoshi.

An attempt to control Bitcoin’s future

Wright’s fake Satoshi identity wasn’t only about recognition — it was more about control. He wanted to reshape the entire cryptocurrency ecosystem according to his vision, with himself as the ultimate authority on all things Bitcoin.

Due to this attitude, Wright launched a systematic intimidation campaign against anyone who questioned his claims. He sued Bitcoin developers, exchanges, and community members who dared to challenge his fake identity, specifically targeting those who couldn’t afford expensive legal battles, thereby using litigation as a weapon to silence critics.

He demanded that exchanges recognize Bitcoin SV as the “true” Bitcoin while dismissing other versions as fraudulent copies. Wright filed patent applications covering fundamental blockchain technologies, apparently believing he could control crypto’s future through intellectual property rights.

The scope of Wright’s ambitions became clear through his public statements and legal filings. “I did not want to be in the public eye, but circumstances forced me to step forward,” he once said at a public place. He envisioned himself as crypto’s supreme ruler, with the power to determine which projects lived or died. He seems to be genuinely believing that his lies entitled him to dictate the future of digital currency.

The community saw beyond the facade

Technical experts within the cryptocurrency community immediately recognized problems with Wright’s claims. His cryptographic proofs contained errors that specialists argued the genuine Satoshi would never have made. His writing style and technical explanations differed significantly from Satoshi’s known communications and demonstrated understanding.

The cryptocurrency community largely rejected his claims from the beginning, with many adopting the dismissive nickname “Faketoshi.” However, Wright persisted despite this scepticism, apparently believing that additional evidence and continued pressure would eventually overcome all the doubts.

As criticism intensified, Wright’s supporting evidence became increasingly elaborate and desperate. He continued forging documents even during legal proceedings designed to evaluate his claims, demonstrating either remarkable arrogance or complete disconnection from reality.

Caught in the Tightening Grip

Wright’s legal troubles had begun way back in 2015 when he was investigated by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) over his involvement with Bitcoin. This investigation led to a raid on his Sydney home by the Australian Federal Police, raising suspicions about his claims regarding Bitcoin’s creation.

Another of Wright’s most significant legal battles was the 2018 lawsuit filed by the estate of Dave Kleiman, a close associate and computer forensics expert. The estate alleged that Wright had defrauded Kleiman’s heirs of billions of dollars’ worth of Bitcoin and intellectual property.

The lawsuit claimed that Wright and Kleiman had worked together on Bitcoin’s early development and mined a large amount of Bitcoin. After Kleiman’s death in 2013, Wright was accused of transferring Bitcoin assets and intellectual property solely into his name, excluding Kleiman’s heirs.

After years of litigation and extensive examination of digital and cryptographic evidence, a jury in 2021 found Wright liable for conversion –  meaning unauthorized control over someone else’s property. The jury awarded Kleiman’s estate $100 million in damages. This verdict dealt a big blow to Wright’s credibility and deepened doubts about his claim to be Bitcoin’s creator.

The final blow which was self inflicted 

A legal battle in the UK began when Wright filed a lawsuit himself, claiming ownership over certain intellectual property rights related to Bitcoin. This move prompted a counterclaim and intense scrutiny by the courts. As the case progressed, the High Court examined Wright’s evidence and claims closely.

In May 2023, the court concluded that Wright’s submissions, including forged documents, were intended to mislead the court and bolster his assertion that he was Satoshi. The judge criticized Wright for abusing the legal process, describing his conduct as a “serious abuse” that undermined the integrity of the justice system.

During the following months, expert witnesses methodically dismantled Wright’s fabricated evidence. They showed how his forged documents contained anachronistic elements, technical impossibilities, and stylistic inconsistencies that proved their fraudulent nature. The cryptographic proofs Wright had relied on for years crumbled under expert analysis.

Finally, on March 14, 2024, Justice Mellor delivered a comprehensive rejection that destroyed Wright’s decade-long deception. The judge announced that Wright had “lied to the court repeatedly and extensively” and had forged evidence “on a grand scale.” The ruling definitively stated that Wright is not Satoshi.

Justice Mellor didn’t stop at rejection. He referred Wright to prosecutors for potential perjury charges based on his false testimony under oath. The court imposed injunctions preventing Wright from filing future lawsuits based on his claimed identity as Bitcoin’s creator.

Most significantly, the court ordered Wright to display a public admission of his deception on his website for six months. The notice, written in Wright’s own words, acknowledged that he had “lied extensively and repeatedly” in court proceedings and created “a false narrative by forging documents on a grand scale.”

Stubborn as a barn door in a windstorm

Despite the court’s ruling and injunctions, Wright refused to accept defeat. He launched another legal case in October 2024, seeking over £900 billion from Jack Dorsey’s payments company Block. The lawsuit accused Block of infringing on Wright’s alleged rights related to Bitcoin’s underlying technology and sought compensation. 

This action of Wright directly violated the UK court’s prohibition on lawsuits, and therefore, in December 2024, he received a suspended prison sentence for contempt of court. 

Wright reportedly stayed in Asia during the sentencing, potentially avoiding immediate imprisonment but effectively exiling himself from the UK. The suspended sentence means he faces immediate jail time if he returns to Britain and breaches court orders again.

Craig’s Lies and Legacy in Total Ruin

In March 2025, he was issued a fine of £225,000 for improperly incorporating AI-generated content containing fabricated legal references and false statements into his appeal documents. During the same time, another court order also imposed a General Civil Restraint Order (GCRO), barring him from filing any further civil claims in the UK without prior approval from the High Court.

According to the latest news floating about him, Wright has reportedly ventured into farming. He has apparently shared plans and images of land clearance and greenhouse construction for a vegetable farm in Asia. However, these posts have been met with scepticism, with some accusing him of even “farming fraud”. 

Once a liar, always a liar 

Wright’s current situation reflects the total failure of a person. His reputation has become that of a compulsive liar. His business ventures collapsed under the weight of exposed fraud. His Bitcoin SV project continues but has lost significant credibility and support following the court revelations.

The cryptocurrency community has moved forward, treating Wright’s case as a cautionary tale rather than an ongoing concern. 

Integrity Over Illusion: What Crypto Learned

Wright’s case demonstrates that even sophisticated deception cannot withstand determined scrutiny from experts and proper legal processes. His initial success showed how the community’s desire to solve Bitcoin’s origin mystery could be exploited, but the ultimate exposure of his fraud illustrated the industry’s resilience and the power of technical expertise in identifying falsehoods. 

This saga reinforced the need for robust verification in decentralized systems. In a space where no central authority governs identity, the case exposed the dangers of charisma, litigation, and misinformation in shaping public belief.   

Wright’s transformation from technically competent professional to cryptocurrency’s most notorious fraud case serves as a warning that sustained dishonesty in technology communities will eventually be exposed when confronted with rigorous analysis and appropriate legal processes.