The Craig Wright Trial Just Hit Closing Arguments—Here's Why Bitcoin Devs Are Watching

After a month of courtroom drama, we’re finally at the finish line of COPA vs. Craig Wright. This week, both sides are making their final pitches to UK Justice James Mellor: either Wright is Satoshi Nakamoto, or he’s not. And honestly? This verdict could reshape the entire crypto legal landscape.

What’s Actually on Trial Here?

COPA (Crypto Open Patent Alliance)—a coalition backed by Jack Dorsey, Coinbase, and Microstrategy—is trying to legally prove Wright is not Bitcoin’s creator. If they win, Wright loses the ability to claim copyrights under the Satoshi name or sue based on that identity ever again.

Wright, who claimed to be Satoshi back in 2016, is fighting to prove otherwise. His lawyers are presenting closing arguments Wednesday.

Why Does This Matter Beyond the Courtroom?

Here’s the kicker: two other major lawsuits are literally on pause waiting for this verdict.

1. The “database rights” case: Wright sued Coinbase, The Block, Bitcoin Core, and others claiming he owns database rights to the entire Bitcoin blockchain. (Yeah, you read that right.)
2. The “passing off” case: Wright’s arguing Coinbase and Kraken are fraudulently selling something that isn’t real Bitcoin—implying they’re selling his intellectual property.

If Wright loses the identity trial, both cases collapse. Judge Mellor suspended them specifically because they hinge entirely on whether Wright actually created Bitcoin.

Scenario 1: COPA Wins

Wright gets an injunction stopping him from claiming to be Satoshi. No more lawsuits based on IP rights to Bitcoin. Developer harassment campaign effectively ends. The second phase would still examine whether the MIT open-source license protects Bitcoin’s whitepaper—but realistically, COPA’s already won the war at that point.

Scenario 2: Wright Wins

If Mellor finds it “plausible” Wright is Satoshi, the case moves to phase two. But even then, the MIT open-source license likely shields Bitcoin’s whitepaper from Wright’s claims. So Wright’s “win” might be pyrrhic.

The bigger issue: those dormant lawsuits wake up. Exchanges could face real litigation over database rights—a legal theory most crypto people think is fantasy.

The Wait

Mellor hasn’t announced when he’ll rule. The closing arguments wrap Friday. After that? We’re in limbo, but the decision could come within weeks.

One thing’s certain: this trial has already changed how the industry views Wright. Evidence tampering allegations, suspect testimony, the ninja anecdote that became meme material—the courtroom has not been kind to his case.

Devs are watching. Exchanges are watching. The future of crypto litigation hangs in the balance.