Craig Wright (b.1970) is an Australian computer scientist who claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious inventor of Bitcoin. According to Wright, he was involved in Bitcoin’s creation along with his friend, the deceased computer security𝓀 expert Dave Kleiman. He made this claim after Wired magazine and Gizmodo floated the possibility of his being Nakamoto in a December 2015 article. The article quoted from numerous sources, including Wright’s email correspondence and chat transcripts with acquaintances, and referenced business dealings to make its case.

In 2024, Wright was proven not to be Nakamoto in a case brought against him by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance. Wright was forced by the judge in the case to publicly declare for six months that he was not Nakamoto.

Early Career and Education

Craig💛 Wright was born in Australia in 1970. He graduated from hi🐓gh school in Brisbane in 1987.

He claims to have earned several academic degrees and certifications, including 16 master's degrees and two Ph.D.s.

He claims to have been a lecturer and researcher in computer science at Charles Sturt University, has authored many articles, academic papers, and books, and has spoken publicly at conferences on IT, security, Bitcoin, and other topics relating to digital currency.

Notable Accomplishments

Aside from Bitcoin-related matters, Wright claims that he has personally conducted in excess of 1,200 engagements related to IT security for numerous Australian and international organizations in the private and government sectors. Dr. Wright claims to have also held senior executive positions with companies focused on digital currency, digital forensics, and IT security, including holding the title of vice president of the Centre for Strategic Cyberspace and Security Science.

He also claims to have worked on technology systಞems that protected the Australian Stock Exchange, trained Australian government and corporate departments in SCADA security, cyber warfare, and cyber defense, and helped design the architecture for the world’s first online casino (Lasseter’s Online in Australia).

Wired magazine and tech news site Gizmodo were the first publications to suggest that Wright invented Bitcoin. Wired based its claim on an assortment of evidence, from a trove of cached documents to deleted blog posts on Wright’s personal site to emails passed onto the editors from his acquaintances.

Legacy

Wright's claim generated intrigue, skepticism, and even support within the Bitcoin community. For example, Gavin Andresen, a director of the Bitcoin Foundation who corresponded with Nakamoto while doing initial programming work in Bitcoin, said he was "convinced beyond a reasonable doubt" that Wright was Satoshi. But critics remained unconvinced about Wright's story and asked for conclusive proof. Security researcher Dan Kaminsky pointed to Wright's botched attempt to prove his story and bolster his claim as evidence that the claim was a scam. In 2021, Andresen retracted his earlier claim, saying it was a mistake.

Also in 2021, Craig Wright appeared in court, where he was the defendant in a lawsuit brought by a former business partner claiming that Wright stole intellectual property and also alleged fraud, theft, and breach of fiduciary duty. At stake was 50% of Wright's verified 1.1 million BTC. The jury found Wright guilty only of intellectual property theft and demanded he pay $100 million in damages. He did not, however, have to relinquish any of his bitcoins.

Wright also claimed to be Satoshi on his personal website. In May 2024, U.K. High Court judge Mr. Justice Mellon eventually found overwhelming evidence existed against Wright's claim to be Nakamoto.

With this ruling, Wright's work to establish himself as 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Bitcoin's creator failed, and his credibility in the circles he frequented has been reduced. It's likely he will only be remembered as someone who tr🌊ied to take credit for a technology he didn't invent.

The Bottom Line

Craig Wright claims to be a lawyer, banker, economist, pastor, coder, investor, mathematician, statistician, and "world-curious." Regꦏardless of the truths, falsehoods, and court decisions, it is clear th🔜at Wright was an early adopter of Bitcoin and very interested in the technology behind it.