The UK Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by self-proclaimed bitcoin creator, Craig Wright, in a libel case against bitcoin podcaster Peter McCormack. In July 2020, a court ruled that Wright was only eligible for a token amount of 1 GBP in compensation, deeming his reputation to be already tarnished due to his association with the controversial claim of being Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin. McCormack had referred to Wright as a “fraud” and expressed doubts about his claims in a series of tweets. Wright’s appeal was based on the argument that the ruling had ignored his reputation in the tech and cryptocurrency communities. However, the Supreme Court upheld the previous decision, stating that Wright’s reputation was already “so impaired” that it was doubtful any further damage could be inflicted by the libel claim.
Craig Wright has long been a controversial figure in the crypto world, with his claims about being Satoshi Nakamoto attracting skepticism and scrutiny. This legal case against Peter McCormack has only further damaged Wright’s already tainted reputation. It seems that the UK Supreme Court agreed with the initial ruling that Wright’s reputation was already in shambles, making the libel claim essentially pointless. Despite his insistence on being the true creator of Bitcoin, Wright continues to face a vehement backlash from the crypto community. While he may have wanted his day in court to prove his worth, it appears that the UK Supreme Court has slapped him down and upheld the previous decision. With this latest development, it seems unlikely that Wright will be able to regain any credibility or convince the crypto world of his alleged identity as Satoshi Nakamoto.
