Craig Wright 'in Discussions' to Settle Multi-Billion-Dollar Court Case

Craig Wright, the Australian entrepreneur who controversially claims he is Satoshi Nakamoto, is moving to settle a case that looks set to cost him billions in bitcoin.

The case has been ongoing since 2018, when Ira Kleiman – the brother of Wright’s late business partner Dave Kleiman – sued for $10 billion, claiming that Wright was trying to seize Dave’s bitcoin holdings.

Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart ruled in late August that Wright must turn over half of his bitcoin holdings and intellectual property from before 2014 to Kleiman's estate.

Now, before that decision is finalized, Wright has lodged a filing with the Southern Florida district court requesting more time to negotiate a settlement with the Kleiman estate.

Filed on Sept. 17, the document states:

"The parties are currently engaged in good faith settlement discussions. To that end, Dr. Wright and Plaintiffs respectfully request a 30-day extension of all discovery and case deadlines to facilitate these discussions."

It goes on to elaborate that "extensive settlement negotiations" have been carried out and that the parties have come to a "non-binding agreement in principle to settle this matter." The negotiation of the agreement is ongoing, and the two sides are currently hashing out the terms and details.

Saying that a settlement is in the interest of both parties, Wright's legal representative requested that the court allow the 30-day extension. It would also allow Wright to cut off further deadlines in the case, such as expert witness disclosures. He further plans to oppose Judge Reinhart's sanctions order on Sept. 24.

The Kleiman estate supported the request for more time to finalize the settlement.

During the case, Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart did not find Wright to be credible, and did not make a finding on whether or not Wright is indeed Satoshi Nakamoto, bitcoin’s creator.

Craig Wright image via CoinDesk archives