Mt. Gox to Return $9 Billion in Bitcoin: Implications for the Crypto Market

As a seasoned crypto investor with a few battle scars from past market volatility, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions upon reading about Mt. Gox’s upcoming payout to its users. On one hand, it’s heartening to know that those who suffered losses a decade ago will finally receive some form of compensation. However, the potential impact on Bitcoin’s price is a cause for concern.


A report by MacKenzie Sigalos and Ryan Browne for CNBC reveals that more than nine billion dollars’ worth of bitcoin belonging to the bankrupt Mt. Gox exchange is scheduled to be returned to its users a decade after the platform’s downfall due to a significant hack, triggering apprehensions among investors.

As a crypto investor, I’ve closely followed the unfortunate story of Mt. Gox, the former largest Bitcoin exchange in the world. In 2014, this exchange faced a series of heists resulting in the loss of roughly 650,000 to 950,000 bitcoins, valued at an astounding $59 billion using today’s prices, as reported by CNBC. The upcoming payout is the result of a lengthy and complex bankruptcy process that has been marked by numerous delays and legal disputes, according to CNBC’s reports.

According to CNBC’s report, the trustee in charge of Mt. Gox’s bankruptcy case has announced that distributions to around 20,000 creditors will start in early July. These payments will consist of a combination of Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. This development brings relief to the long-waiting victims, but it has also affected Bitcoin’s market value, causing a significant drop to $59,000 during one of the year’s most substantial weekly declines, as noted by CNBC.

According to analysts consulted by CNBC, the upcoming release of around 141,000 bitcoins, which makes up roughly 0.7% of the entire supply, may put further pressure on Bitcoin’s price and cause it to decrease.

As a crypto investor, I’d interpret John Glover’s perspective this way: I believe that numerous Mt. Gox creditors will cash out their reclaimed Bitcoins to secure substantial profits given the current market conditions. Similarly, James Butterfill’s view aligns with mine: The crypto market is particularly reactive to news surrounding major Bitcoin recoveries.

historically, massive withdrawals of Bitcoin from central marketplaces like Gemini have had an impact on the cryptocurrency’s value, according to CNBC. Last month, Gemini returned over $2 billion in Bitcoin to its users, which may have contributed to the recent price decrease, as noted by CNBC.

Although some analysts, including Jacob Joseph of CCData, raise concerns, they believe the market’s response will be temporary. They argue that ample liquidity exists to absorb any potential sales, and numerous creditors might choose to repay their debts earlier, thereby decreasing overall selling pressure.

Some creditors may choose to accept a 10% reduction in the value of their debts in order to receive their repayments sooner. Not every holding will be sold publicly, which will lessen the overall urge to sell.

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2024-07-02 15:51