Craig Wright Denies Falsifying Documents in Bitcoin Trial
Australian computer scientist and self-proclaimed inventor of Bitcoin, Craig Wright, defended himself against accusations of evidence tampering during his cross-examination at the London court. Faced with every inconsistency raised by the opposing attorney, Wright offered an explanation for each one, ranging from self-plagiarism to poor multitasking skills.
Denial of Falsification
Wright refuted the accusation that inconsistencies in a PDF document would prove manipulation. ‘If I had forged this document, then it would be perfect,’ Wright argued, highlighting that the typographical errors would instead indicate no modification. This statement comes as part of a trial in the UK that could invalidate his controversial claim to be the father of cryptocurrency.
Industrial-Scale Accusations
The Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), a coalition of cryptocurrency advocates and developers, has pursued Wright, accusing him of large-scale tampering to prove that he is Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous inventor of Bitcoin. In response, Wright denied forging various elements he had previously presented as proof that he authored Bitcoin’s founding document, known as the white paper.
Explanations for Every Inconsistency
Facing inquiries from Jonathan Hough, attorney for the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), Wright attributed the inconsistencies in his arguments to various factors, from self-plagiarism and printing errors to illnesses or the deaths of various witnesses. When asked why he obscured the address bar of a web browser while recording separate videos supposedly showing his access to a Satoshi-linked email account, Craig Wright cited his limited multitasking abilities.
Extended Cross-Examination
Hough’s cross-examination lasted a whole day, examining key pieces of evidence presented by Wright, including credit card payments, emails, documents, and tweets that COPA claims prove Wright’s claim to be Satoshi is a ‘blatant lie.’ Craig Wright hesitated when asked if he would consider the material presented so far as the primary basis for supporting his claim to be Satoshi.
Craig Wright’s examination is scheduled to continue until at least February 13, according to a provisional timeline shared by the court.
