Craig Wright, an Australian computer scientist who has long claimed to be the inventor of Bitcoin, is now facing a criminal investigation in Britain for alleged perjury. Wright, 54, has been found to have repeatedly lied and forged documents to support his assertion that he is the author of the 2008 Bitcoin white paper published under the pseudonym “Satoshi Nakamoto”.

Wright has pursued litigation worldwide based on his claim, including high-profile cases in the United States and Britain. The Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), which includes members such as Jack Dorsey’s payments firm Block, took Wright to court to prevent him from suing Bitcoin developers. Earlier this year, Wright’s case culminated in a trial at London’s High Court.

In March, Judge James Mellor ruled that the evidence against Wright’s claim of being Satoshi Nakamoto was “overwhelming”. In a written judgment issued in May, Mellor stated that Wright had lied “extensively and repeatedly” and had forged documents “on a grand scale” during the case.

On Tuesday, Judge Mellor referred Wright to Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service, recommending they consider initiating a prosecution for perjury and forgery. Mellor also suggested that prosecutors consider issuing a warrant for Wright’s arrest and potentially seeking his extradition from his current location, which is currently unknown.

This development marks a significant turn in the long-running saga surrounding Wright’s controversial claim to be the creator of Bitcoin, a claim that has been met with widespread skepticism and legal challenges. The outcome of the criminal investigation could have far-reaching implications for Wright and the ongoing discourse about the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto.