In a sweeping judgment issued on May 12, the British High Court has imposed a General Civil Restraint Order against Craig Wright, effectively barring the Australian computer scientist from initiating further defamation lawsuits without court approval.
The ruling, handed down by Justice Edward Mellor, marks a significant legal blow to Wright, who for years has claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous inventor of Bitcoin. Mellor condemned Wright’s actions as a deliberate misuse of the legal system aimed at silencing critics and legitimizing his disputed identity.
The judge noted that Dr Wright sought to weaponise legal systems to intimidate and suppress critics, referencing what he described as a pattern of costly and one-sided litigation built on fabricated evidence. Wright’s actions, Mellor added, created a “personal hell” for several individuals in the Bitcoin community, including developers, bloggers, and researchers.
The court’s decision stems from a claim filed by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) in 2021. COPA—a nonprofit coalition advocating open access to crypto technologies—sought declaratory relief in response to threats Wright had issued against its members. Among those targeted were prominent figures like crypto podcaster Peter McCormack and Twitter personality Magnus Granath, better known as “Hodlonaut.”
“put each man through five years of personal hell,” Mellor wrote, pointing to what he characterized as an orchestrated campaign backed by substantial financial resources. He added that the chilling effect of Wright’s litigation spree was felt far beyond individual defendants, stifling broader innovation in the crypto space.
Wright’s legal crusade, which earned him the nickname “Faketoshi” among critics, has also included defamation suits against Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Blockstream CEO Adam Back. However, a pivotal moment came in November when the UK Court of Appeal definitively dismissed Craig Wright’s latest attempt to assert himself as the creator of Bitcoin.
COPA welcomed the restraining order, calling it a vital step toward protecting open development in the blockchain industry. The ruling now prevents Wright from filing new civil claims or applications in the High Court without judicial permission.
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