Celsius Network has reached pivotal settlements that could potentially clear the path for court approval of its plan to return assets to its customers and conclude its bankruptcy, according to court filings on Friday. However, the settlements come after the company, one of the largest crypto firms catering to retail investors, filed for bankruptcy last year.
As per the filings, one of the settlements resolves customer claims over allegations of fraud and misrepresentation by prior Celsius management by increasing recoveries by 5%. This agreement addresses 30,000 claims seeking $78 billion in compensation. The settlements set the stage for a confirmation hearing on Celsius’s reorganization plan in October before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Martin Glenn, and for customers to start receiving disbursements of crypto and other assets by the end of the year.
Despite the stance of Celsius’s legal team that customers were due no more than their deposited sums, many users lodged claims seeking damages over alleged misconduct by the company’s previous management. This situation was further complicated by the arrest of Celsius founder Alex Mashinsky last week on charges of customer fraud, Cryptopolitan reported.
Another settlement resolves contention between two of the largest customer groups of the crypto firm: those with deposits in its high-interest accounts and others who secured fiat-currency loans. The borrowers’ group had advocated for more favorable treatment than the high-interest account holders. As part of the settlement, the borrowers secured some concessions, including the option to reclaim crypto used as collateral upon repayment of their loans.
In its reorganization plan, Celsius proposes to return a portion of customers’ crypto and offer them shares in a new entity that will emerge from the crypto lender. This new entity, steered by a group of investors including TechCrunch co-founder Michael Arrington, will oversee Celsius’s bitcoin mining operations and other less liquid assets.
In conclusion, the settlements achieved by Celsius Network represent a critical step towards resolving one of the most high-profile collapses in the crypto industry.
