Australian who claimed he invented Bitcoin decides he won’t provide proof after all

This week has been one confusing ride for anyone who hasn’t been keeping up with the is-he, isn’t-he Bitcoin creator saga Craig Wright, and now it just got even stranger.

On Monday, Australian computer scientist Wright claimed he created the cryptocurrency, but failed to provide conclusive proof. This sent the Web into a spin, and doubt about the veracity of the claims quickly grew.

In response, Wright said he’d provide definitive proof that he is indeed Satoshi Nakamoto. However, he’s now changed his mind about that too, he said in a new post.

I believed that I could do this. I believed that I could put the years of anonymity and hiding behind me. But, as the events of this week unfolded and I prepared to publish the proof of access to the earliest keys, I broke. I do not have the courage. I cannot.

When the rumours began, my qualifications and character were attacked. When those allegations were proven false, new allegations have already begun. I know now that I am not strong enough for this.

I know that this weakness will cause great damage to those that have supported me, and particularly to Jon Matonis and Gavin Andresen. I can only hope their honour and credibility is not irreparably tainted by my actions. They were not deceived, but I know that the world will never believe that now. I can only say I’m sorry.

And goodbye.

Andresen, chief scientist of the Bitcoin Foundation, maintained earlier in the week that he believed that Wright is the creator of bitcoin, but was confused as to why he hadn’t chosen to share more convincing proof, which would be relatively easy for the real Satoshi Nakamoto.

Via BBC