The saga of Celsius, the crypto lending platform that faced a slew of problems last year, appears to be inching closer to a resolution. Recently, the company announced that eligible users would be able to withdraw the remaining 6% of Distributable Custody Assets (DCA) from the platform, more than 300 days after it froze withdrawals. This represents a significant milestone, as those users would be able to access 100% of their original funds.
Until January, such users – mostly those who only ever held funds in custody accounts – were limited to withdrawing up to 94% of their funds. With the court’s approval, eligible users will now be able to access the full amount. This comes as good news to many Celsius users, who have been waiting to be compensated for missing funds since the company froze withdrawals in June 2022 and later filed for bankruptcy in July.
However, the path to this point has not been without challenges. Some users reported prolonged delays with their withdrawal requests, even when their funds were supposed to be available. For some, these requests took days to process, causing frustration within the community.
Moreover, the company’s current state is far from ideal. Celsius is seeking to merge its United Kingdom and United States entities, suggesting an attempt to have the two treated the same under bankruptcy proceedings. The platform and its founder and former CEO, Alex Mashinsky, are also facing a lawsuit filed by the New York Attorney General’s office earlier this year. Mashinsky filed a motion to dismiss the case on May 2, claiming it was built on misinformation.
While this update may bring relief to some users who have been waiting for access to their funds, it raises questions about the regulatory framework surrounding such crypto lending platforms. While Celsius can be credited for making progress in reimbursing its customers, the fact that users had to wait for such a long time to access their funds is deeply concerning.
This situation has exposed the need for more robust industry regulations and oversight to ensure the safety and security of user assets. Furthermore, it showcases the importance of transparency and communication between platforms and their users, who have entrusted their hard-earned money to these services.
In conclusion, the Celsius update highlights both the progress being made in reimbursing users and the limits of the current regulatory framework. While it is heartening to see funds being returned, this saga serves as a reminder of the risks and the need for greater regulatory clarity surrounding crypto lending platforms. The industry must work to establish better safeguards and transparency for its users, ensuring that incidents like this are less likely to occur in the future.
Source: Cointelegraph
