Craig Wright claims to have invented Bitcoin.Credit:BBC News
Some prominent cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and investors regard Wright as a fake and believe Satoshi’s enduring anonymity is part of the genius of bitcoin – a competitive advantage for an innovation that has drawn scrutiny and ire from countless governments. Wright has stood by his claim,even suing critics who have called him an impostor.
Yet the Kleiman case isn’t principally about whether Wright is really Satoshi. At issue in the trial,which begins Monday (US time) with jury selection,is whether a business partnership existed between Wright and Kleiman before the latter’s death.
Wright is definitely “an important early innovator in cryptocurrency,and is also rich from cryptocurrency,” said Aaron Brown,a crypto investor who also writes for Bloomberg Opinion. “Beyond that,his claims to be the main or only author of the original bitcoin white paper have little support.”
Despite the scepticism,crypto fans will be following the trial for any clues. Satoshi speculation is a favourite hobby in the crypto community,and last month,even venture capitalist Peter Thiel joined in,speculating that the real Satoshi was on the same beach as him in Anguilla in February 2000. Whoever Satoshi is,he or she probably has access to enough bitcoin to dramatically sway the market.
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The Kleiman estate complaint against Wright was first filed almost three years ago,but the case has faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emails in the court records show the men had a simpatico relationship – in one message,Wright called Kleiman his “best friend” – but Kleiman’s brother,Ira,will try to prove they had a business partnership.