Crypto class actions surge in 2025 as filings near 2024 total in six months

Investor-led class-action lawsuits targeting the cryptocurrency industry are accelerating in 2025, with the number of filings already approaching the total seen in 2024, according to a recent report from Cornerstone Research [1]. As of mid-2025, six crypto-related lawsuits have been filed—nearly double the seven cases recorded in the entire previous year. This represents a sharp increase and indicates a growing appetite among investors to seek redress through civil action.

The report highlights a shift in the legal landscape, with plaintiffs increasingly targeting not only direct crypto issuers but also related entities such as crypto miners and companies involved in the broader ecosystem, including those selling mining hardware or forming partnerships with crypto firms [1]. Of the six lawsuits filed in 2025, three are against a crypto issuer, one is against a miner, and two are against what the firm describes as “cryptocurrency-adjacent” companies. Notably, half of the filings this year have come from the law firm Burwick Law, with two of the most publicized cases involving Pump.fun and the controversial LIBRA memecoin [1].

Despite a general decline in overall securities class actions—114 new cases in H1 2025 compared to 115 in the second half of 2024—the focus on crypto-related cases has intensified [1]. Legal experts suggest that investors are acting swiftly to file claims before market conditions shift or settlements are finalized, a trend that could accelerate further in the second half of the year. The increase in average case size also points to larger potential liabilities for companies involved.

The surge in crypto-related litigation is occurring even as U.S. enforcement efforts in the sector have cooled under the Trump administration, with agencies like the SEC and Department of Justice scaling back their aggressive crypto crackdowns [1]. This has left room for civil litigation to fill the gap, with legal professionals arguing that such actions provide a crucial mechanism for accountability when other regulatory tools lag behind.

Alongside crypto, artificial intelligence (AI) has also emerged as a key driver of securities class actions. In the first half of 2025, 12 AI-related lawsuits were filed—nearly matching the 15 total from 2024. A central theme in these cases is what is termed “AI-washing,” where companies overstate or misrepresent their AI capabilities to investors [1]. According to Stanford law professor and former SEC Commissioner Joseph Grundfest, this practice often results in legal claims once the truth is revealed and investors suffer losses.

The convergence of crypto and AI in litigation underscores the broader trend of increased scrutiny over technology-driven financial disclosures. As companies in both sectors grapple with heightened legal and regulatory expectations, the legal community is adapting by seeking professionals with expertise in both blockchain and securities law. This trend is expected to continue as more specialized courts and arbitration panels handle the rising volume of such cases.

For the crypto industry, the implications are clear: as lawsuits mount, so too does the need for transparency and compliance. Investors, meanwhile, are being urged to conduct more rigorous due diligence when engaging with crypto platforms and assets. The rapid increase in class-action lawsuits signals a deepening understanding of the legal and financial risks involved in the digital asset space, and it remains to be seen how these developments will shape investor confidence and market dynamics in the months ahead.

Source:

[1] Cointelegraph - Crypto class actions close in on 2024 total in just 6 months (https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-class-actions-close-in-on-2024-total-in-just-6-months?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound)