Gemini Sues Genesis over $1.6 Billion Dispute in GBTC Shares

<p>In
a legal battle that has been simmering since last year, the cryptocurrency exchange
Gemini has taken its dispute with digital asset lender Genesis to court over
the rightful ownership of $1.6 billion in Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC)
shares. </p><p>Gemini's
lawsuit, filed in the US Bankruptcy Court Southern District of New York, seeks
to regain control of these shares to fulfill its obligations to clients of its
Earn program.</p><p>Genesis's Financial Turmoil:
Bankruptcy and Operations Cessation</p><p>The
genesis of this dispute lies in Genesis's previous role as the primary lending
partner for Gemini's Earn product, which allowed customers to earn returns on
their cryptocurrency holdings. </p><p>However,
last year's upheaval in the cryptocurrency industry, marked by the collapse of
mega-exchange FTX and its reverberations throughout the market, led to Genesis
suspending withdrawals. This left Gemini Earn customers in limbo, unsure of the
fate of their investments.</p><p>Gemini
is now striving to recover the $1.6 billion in GBTC shares, a sum that could
potentially secure and satisfy the claims of every Earn User who suffered
losses. In a recent court filing, Gemini stated: "Today, the Collateral is
worth nearly $1.6 billion, an amount that would completely secure and satisfy
the claims of every single Earn User." The
crux of the issue lies in Genesis's involvement, as Gemini claims that Genesis
is obstructing the return of funds to Earn Users and attempting to divert these
assets to other creditor groups.</p><p>Genesis
Global is a subsidiary of Digital Currency Group (DCG). DCG also controls the
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust. In January, Genesis Global filed for bankruptcy, and
just last month, it announced the cessation of all its operations. </p><p>Gemini Trust was founded by the Winklevoss twins, Cameron
and Tyler Winklevoss. Cameron Winklevoss has alleged that DCG's CEO, Barry
Silbert, is employing "bad faith stall tactics" to delay a resolution
to the dispute, further escalating the tension between the parties.</p><blockquote><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gemini Trust is suing bankrupt crypto lender Genesis Global Holdco in an attempt to determine who rightfully owns a slug of shares in the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust now worth nearly $1.6 billion <a href="https://t.co/AMQrtaB5MN">https://t.co/AMQrtaB5MN</a></p>— Bloomberg Crypto (@crypto) <a href="https://twitter.com/crypto/status/1718704388016165008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2023</a></blockquote><p>Winklevoss Twins
under Scrutiny for $282 Million Withdrawal from Genesis</p><p>In an earlier report, <a href="https://www.financemagnates.com/">Finance Magnates</a> stated that <a href="https://www.financemagnates.com/cryptocurrency/geminis-founders-face-scrutiny-over-280m-crypto-withdrawal-amid-genesis-crisis/">Cameron
and Tyler Winklevos were facing scrutiny for an alleged secret withdrawal of
$282 million</a> from the now-bankrupt crypto lender Genesis, just months
before the firm's collapse. </p><p>The withdrawal raised questions about
whether the funds were corporate assets or personal holdings of the Winklevoss
twins. Gemini maintains that the withdrawn sum belonged to Earn program users
and was not corporate or personal funds. </p><p>This comes in the midst of other
challenges for <a href="https://www.financemagnates.com/tag/gemini/">Gemini</a>,
including layoffs and plummeting trading volumes, as well as over $900 million
in customer deposits frozen due to Genesis's collapse. A legal dispute between
Gemini and Genesis further complicates the situation, with allegations of
fraudulent activity. <a href="https://www.financemagnates.com/tag/genesis/">Genesis</a>
has been grappling with financial troubles since its bankruptcy and a
settlement with <a href="https://www.financemagnates.com/tag/ftx/">FTX</a>.</p>

This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.