The UK High Court recently made a significant decision regarding the assets of Craig Wright, the Australian computer scientist who had previously sued Peter McCormack, an entrepreneur and podcast host. Peter McCormack had applied for a World Freezing Order (WFO) against Wright’s assets in order to recover over £1.5 million ($1.9 million) in legal fees related to Wright’s libel case against him.
The court granted McCormack’s application for the WFO against Wright, which means that McCormack will be able to recover the specified amount in legal fees. The legal documents regarding this decision were filed on Friday, July 5.
This legal battle between Wright and McCormack began in 2019 when Wright filed a libel case against McCormack, claiming that the podcaster had defamed him by stating that he was not the creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. However, Wright lost the case in August 2022, and his appeal was dismissed on July 26, 2023. Even the UK Supreme Court rejected Wright’s appeal in December 2023.
Justice Mellor, in his judgment, also mentioned the COPA Trial’s developments. In May 2024, the judge ruled that Craig Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto, nor is he the creator of Bitcoin. The ruling also clarified that Wright did not write the Bitcoin White Paper, which introduced the world’s largest digital asset.
Peter McCormack expressed his satisfaction with the latest verdict against Wright, highlighting that the worldwide freezing order of £1.548 million was crucial for recovering his legal fees. This legal battle has had significant implications for both parties involved and has brought clarity to the ongoing dispute between Wright and McCormack.