In a significant move to address its financial obligations, the bankrupt cryptocurrency lending firm Genesis has converted roughly 36 million shares of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into Bitcoin, gearing up to settle its debts with creditors.
This conversion was executed on April 2, with the GBTC shares valued at approximately $58.50 each at the time of liquidation, according to Bloomberg.
This decision comes after the GBTC share price witnessed a substantial 50% increase since Genesis initially received approval from the U.S. bankruptcy court for the share sale back in early February when shares were valued at $38.50.
The liquidation of GBTC shares culminated in a $2.1 billion revenue for Genesis, which it used to purchase 32,041 Bitcoin at $65,685 per Bitcoin on the same day.
This purchase is aimed at fulfilling the firm’s obligations towards its creditors, with the acquired Bitcoin currently valued at around $2.18 billion.
The cryptocurrency community has been closely monitoring this large-scale transaction, concerned about its potential impact on the market.
Coinbase, however, has offered reassurances, suggesting that the move is likely to have a neutral effect on the market as the funds remain within the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
This is part of Genesis’s bankruptcy plan, which permits the firm to either directly convert the GBTC shares into Bitcoin for creditors or sell them and distribute the proceeds.
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This development follows an assertion by the Digital Currency Group that its subsidiary, Genesis, is committed to repaying its customers beyond their due entitlements.
Furthermore, Genesis recently announced a settlement agreement with the SEC, agreeing to a $21 million payment to resolve a civil lawsuit related to its operations, including the temporary suspension of withdrawals from Gemini Earn following the FTX bankruptcy, citing market turmoil and liquidity challenges.
Genesis’s financial troubles became more pronounced after the SEC’s lawsuit led to its bankruptcy filing earlier last year.
Additionally, a recent court ruling has allowed the SEC’s lawsuit against Gemini and Genesis to proceed, dismissing motions by both companies to dismiss the lawsuit, which involves allegations of selling unregistered securities through the Gemini Earn program.
This legal development underscores the ongoing challenges and regulatory scrutiny facing the cryptocurrency industry.
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