In a dramatic turn of events, a group of Bitcoin developers is pushing back against a lawsuit in the UK. The bone of contention? A claim that they wrongfully refused to help Craig Wright’s crypto company, Tulip Trading, retrieve whopping billions of dollars worth of bitcoin. The company alleges this massive stash was lost in a hack. But here’s the twist: the developers are crying foul!
Lawyers representing these 12 developers have made it crystal clear to the UK High Court that Tulip Trading never had ownership of the 111,000 bitcoin it’s trying to lay its hands on. They’re throwing some heavy punches, alleging that the company has been playing fast and loose, fabricating documents to prove ownership of these tokens. Their goal? To fraudulently gain control over this vast fortune.
Enter the Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund. This organization, backed by big names like Twitter’s Jack Dorsey, has shared the court filing. Their stance? Tulip Trading bases its claim on fraudulent grounds and “fabricated documents.” They didn’t mince words, stating that Dr. Wright has a track record of “fraud, forgery, and dishonesty.” They even went as far as to say he’s using the English courts as a puppet in his grand scheme.
But the plot thickens. The developers are adamant that there’s zero evidence pointing to Wright or his company ever having ownership of the wallets that once held the disputed Bitcoin.
Remember Craig Wright? The man at the center of the crypto world’s most heated debates, claiming he’s the elusive Bitcoin creator, Satoshi Nakamoto? Well, he’s back in the limelight. Last year, he took the developers to court, alleging they refused to create a backdoor in bitcoin software. He claimed this would’ve allowed Tulip Trading to regain control of the crypto it once owned and subsequently lost. Wright’s lawyers have thrown down the gauntlet, stating the developers failed in their duty by not assisting Tulip Trading.
Wright, known for his penchant for legal battles, was notably silent when CoinDesk sought his comments. But his history speaks volumes.
Last month, a UK court tossed out Wright’s lawsuit against crypto giants Coinbase and Kraken. His claim? That they infringed on his copyright by using the name “Bitcoin.” And let’s not forget last year, he faced a stinging defeat in a lawsuit where he was accused of fabricating his identity as Satoshi.
As the crypto world watches with bated breath, Wright is currently juggling not one, not two, but three lawsuits in various parts of the globe.
