Craig Wright's UK Case Against 16 Bitcoin Developers to Go to Full Trial

The U.K. Court of Appeals ruled that a claim by Craig Wright's Tulip Trading against 16 Bitcoin developers should go to trial in London. The claim was originally dismissed in March 2022

The claim alleges that the developers owe "fiduciary duties" and "duties of care" over their control of the Bitcoin network. In its judgment, The Court of Appeals said the claim presents a "serious issue to be tried" and cited four grounds for the appeal to succeed, including that the relevant area of law is developing, uncertain and complex and thus warrants a trial.

In 2021, the London High Court gave Craig Wright's lawyers the permission to serve papers to the 16 developers even if they don't reside in the U.K. The developers included Cory Fields, Peter Todd, Roger Ver, Pieter Wuille and others that have worked on the Bitcoin network.

A legal representative for 14 of the developers said that the the Court of Appeal felt inclined to send the case to trial as the developers were all outside the jurisdiction of the court, City AM reported. A full trial is expected next year.

Craig Wright is a computer scientist who claims to be Bitcoin's pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. A Norwegian court ruled in October that Wright lied and cheated in an attempt to prove those claims in a lawsuit that he ultimately lost against Hodlonaut.

See also: Craig Wright’s Blacklist Resembles Bitcoin ‘Kill Switch’ Satoshi Never Followed Through On

UPDATE (Feb. 3, 14:10 UTC): Changes attribution to court ruling, adds partial reason for appeal's success in second paragraph.