Bitcoin Repayment by Mt Gox: 142K BTC Deadline Passed, Price at Risk?

Bitcoin Repayment by Mt. Gox: 142K BTC Deadline Passed, Price at Risk?

The Deadline for Mt. Gox Repayments Passes: What’s Next?

The long-awaited deadline for entering repayment information for Mt. Gox, the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange, has finally passed. This marks a significant development in the ongoing saga of the exchange’s bankruptcy, which occurred nearly a decade ago in February of 2014. With over 10,000 crypto creditors from around the world required to choose their preferred form of repayment over the last six months, the repayment process is set to commence soon, according to the Mt. Gox Trustee.

Repayment Details and Timeline

In an April 7 letter, the Trustee announced that repayments will be made until Oct. 31 (Japan Time). Creditors had the option to choose between cryptocurrency or fiat, as well as specify their preferred cryptocurrency exchange, address, bank account, or PayPal account. The Trustee will coordinate with various financial institutions, including crypto exchanges and digital asset custodians, to facilitate the repayments. However, due to the complexity of the process and involvement of multiple entities, the Trustee cautioned that it might take some time before the repayments are initiated. The deadline may also be extended with permission from the Tokyo District Court.

Recovered Assets and Payment Method

Despite losing 850,000 Bitcoins in 2014, Mt. Gox has managed to recover approximately 142,000 BTC, 143,000 in Bitcoin Cash (BCH), and 69 billion Japanese Yen ($510 million), which accounts for around 20% of the total attack. Payments will be made using a combination of fiat currency and cryptocurrencies, specifically Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. The initial 200,000 yen ($1520) of each creditor’s claim will be settled in Yen. If the claim exceeds the initial amount and the creditor has opted for both crypto and cash, the payout will be in 71% crypto and 29% cash.

Impact on Bitcoin Price and Market

Many have speculated that the repayment process might put pressure on the price of Bitcoin as customers choose alternative forms of payment such as fiat or BCH over BTC. However, it’s important to note that the impact on Bitcoin’s price is likely to be marginal, and the likelihood of a catastrophic effect is low. As of now, the price of Bitcoin is trading at $27,926, with a slight gain of 0.26% over the past 24 hours and 0.24% over the last seven days.

Conclusion

The passing of the repayment deadline for Mt. Gox marks a significant step in the process of compensating the exchange’s creditors. While the repayment process may take some time to initiate, the recovered assets and payment method offer some hope for creditors to recoup their losses. The impact on Bitcoin’s price and the market is expected to be minimal. As the situation unfolds, it will be important to closely monitor developments related to Mt. Gox and its repayments.