Crypto enthusiasts are abuzz as Mt. Gox, the long-defunct crypto exchange, transferred $9.62 billion worth of Bitcoin (BTC) into a new wallet, suggesting that creditors might soon be repaid.
The transaction involved moving 141,686 BTC to a single wallet, "1Jbez," consolidating funds from multiple cold wallets associated with Mt. Gox.
This move marks the first significant on-chain activity by the crypto exchange in over five years.
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Since halting trading and withdrawals in 2014, Mt. Gox's users have been unable to access their funds, leading to years of uncertainty and frustration.
The recent transfer is seen as a positive signal that the crypto exchange is making progress toward repaying its creditors, potentially by October 31, 2024.
Adding to the optimism, Mt. Gox rehabilitation trustee Nobuaki Kobayashi confirmed that the consolidation is part of the repayment plan. In a May 28 announcement, Kobayashi stated:
Under the Rehabilitation Plan, the Rehabilitation Trustee is preparing to make repayment for the portion of cryptocurrency rehabilitation claims to which cryptocurrency is allocated <...> As the Rehabilitation Trustee is proceeding with the preparation for the above repayments, please wait for a while until the repayments are made.
However, there is a potential for delays, as the current deadline was initially set in September 2023. Despite these possible setbacks, the move toward repayment brings hope to the 127,000 creditors who have awaited their funds for over a decade.
Mt. Gox, once a dominant force in the crypto market, handling over 70% of all Bitcoin trades, collapsed in 2014 following a major hack in 2011 and subsequent security breaches. The fallout resulted in the loss of 850,000 BTC.
Overall, although challenges and potential delays remain, the crypto community is hopeful that this long-awaited resolution is finally within reach.
Progress toward creditor repayments was also made in January this year, as the crypto exchange's trustee actively contacted creditors to verify their identities and confirm account details.
