Judge Confirms Ruling: Craig Wright to Forfeit 50% of Bitcoin Holdings

A final order has been filed in Australian-born technologist Craig Wright's sanctions and contempt hearing.

In a court document published August 27, District Magistrate Bruce E. Reinhart confirmed that Wright, the self-declared inventor of bitcoin, must forfeit half his crypto mined prior to 2014 to Ira Kleiman as well as half his intellectual property.

Wright is ordered to pay the attorney's fees and related expenses incurred in this motion.

The court found Wright had argued in bad faith, perjured himself, and admitted false evidence during the motion.

The ongoing trial began in 2018, when Kleiman - the brother of Wright's late business partner Dave Kleiman - sued for half the bitcoin holdings in the so-called Tulip Trust, alleging that Wright defrauded the family's estate.

"Dr. Wright and David Kleiman entered into a 50/50 partnership to develop Bitcoin intellectual property and to mine bitcoin; any Bitcoin-related intellectual property developed by Dr. Wright prior to David Kleiman's death was property of the partnership, all bitcoin mined by Dr. Wright prior to David Kleiman's death was property of the partnership when mined; and Plaintiffs presently retain an ownership interest in the partnership's bitcoin, and any assets traceable to them."

Accordingly, Wright's argument, that the bitcoin is inaccessible due both to his former business partner's death as well as a complicated encryption mechanism was found to be in bad faith.

The sanctions are Wright's alone, Reinhart wrote.

Previously, Wright's testimony was previously declared to "Inconsistent" by District Judge Beth Bloom.

Kleiman was represented by Kyle Roche and Velvel Freedman of Roche Freedman LLP, while Wright was represented by Rivero Mestre LLP. Kleiman must alert Wright of the appropriate costs due to him on or prior to September 20.