Film Claims Wright Is Satoshi; Court Disagrees

The Bitcoin film, currently in post-production, presents Craig Wright's account of the Satoshi Nakamoto narrative. Mark Karpelès, the former head of Mt. Gox, responded by directing viewers to the legal documents.

The $70 million production is directed by Doug Liman. Casey Affleck portrays Wright, while AI-generated versions of Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Jack Dorsey appear. The cast also includes Gal Gadot, Calvin Ayre, Pete Davidson, and Isla Fisher.

Why the Bitcoin Movie Splits Bitcoiners

Karpelès, who managed Mt. Gox until its 2014 collapse, responded to a thread mocking Wright's supporters. His instruction was direct: he told readers to go to bitcoin.movie.

The page does not list an author. However, it relies entirely on public judgments and argues that the movie misrepresents what judges actually concluded.

The sets were built using artificial intelligence. Actors performed on a bare stage while software generated the environments, a method producer Ryan Kavanaugh says saves significant costs.

The timing is significant. Bitcoin's origin story continues to make headlines, and new claims spread quickly. In April, a New York Times investigation named Blockstream CEO Adam Back, who denied it. Back has since challenged recent Satoshi documentary claims and the weight placed on early Bitcoin forum posts.

What the Court Actually Found

The Bitcoin movie portrays Wright as a man pursued by powerful enemies. However, in 2024, the High Court of England and Wales determined that he did not write the Bitcoin white paper nor create the network. Mr Justice Mellor found evidence of extensive forgery.

“Dr Wright lied to the Court extensively and repeatedly.” Mr Justice Mellor, judgment.

A contempt finding followed in December 2024. Wright received a suspended 12-month sentence after filing a £900 billion claim against Bitcoin developers and companies.

Wright also has a history with Karpelès. In 2020, his lawyers claimed ownership of coins in two hacked Mt. Gox wallets.

Despite that record, Wright still posts online. His recent governance critique argued that Bitcoin's base rules should never change.

Calvin Ayre, Wright's long-time financial backer, reportedly helped finance the film. That means the funding behind the production has a stake in the claim it dramatizes. The film was pitched at the Cannes market in April. No distributor has signed on since, so there is no release date.

Bitcoin's origin story has attracted claimants, documentaries, and lawsuits for years. Now it also attracts Hollywood money. The Bitcoin movie adds another version of events, not a resolution.