BlockFi Dismisses $35 Million Crypto Asset Lawsuit With DOJ

The administrator overseeing BlockFi’s bankruptcy wind-down and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) have reached a settlement to dismiss a $35 million crypto asset transfer lawsuit involving the crypto lender. The agreement was approved by Judge Michael B. Kaplan of the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey on Friday. The lawsuit, filed in May 2023, sought to transfer over $35 million in crypto assets from BlockFi to the US government. The DOJ said it had warrants to seize the funds from the BlockFi accounts of two Estonian citizens in a criminal fraud case unrelated to BlockFi’s bankruptcy. At the time, the DOJ argued that the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey did not have the jurisdiction to prevent BlockFi from transferring the assets. The dispute arose during BlockFi's bankruptcy proceedings.

Under the stipulation agreed upon by both parties, the case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Each party will bear its own legal fees and costs as part of the settlement. Mohsin Meghji, Plan Administrator for BlockFi’s wind-down estates, represented the crypto firm in the case. The Department of Justice was represented by senior trial counsel Seth B. Shapiro and his team from the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch.

In May last year, BlockFi announced plans to shut down its web platform while partnering with Coinbase to help clients withdraw their remaining funds. Eligible users, including those with BlockFi Interest Accounts, retail loans, and private client accounts, can use Coinbase for withdrawals. The company declared bankruptcy in November 2022 following the collapse of FTX and subsequently set a withdrawal deadline of April 28, 2024, for customers to reclaim their crypto holdings.

In March last year, BlockFi also reached an $875 million settlement with FTX and Alameda Research estates, resolving about $1 billion in claims. CEO Zac Prince testified that FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s actions directly caused BlockFi’s bankruptcy. The bankruptcy court approved BlockFi’s Chapter 11 plan in September 2023 to repay over 10,000 creditors. BlockFi owes approximately $10 billion to more than 100,000 creditors, including major debts to its top three creditors and the bankrupt hedge fund Three Arrows Capital.

This settlement marks a significant development in BlockFi's bankruptcy proceedings, as it resolves a key dispute over the transfer of crypto assets. The dismissal of the lawsuit with prejudice indicates that the matter is now closed, and neither party can refile the case. This resolution allows BlockFi to focus on its wind-down process and the repayment of its creditors. The settlement also highlights the complexities involved in bankruptcy proceedings, particularly when they involve crypto assets and multiple jurisdictions. The agreement between the bankruptcy administrator and the DOJ demonstrates a willingness to resolve disputes amicably and efficiently, which is crucial for the orderly wind-down of BlockFi's operations.