The bankruptcy filing of crypto custodian Prime Trust has unsurprisingly sent shockwaves through the crypto community. However, it seems that discerning community members had identified the trust’s precarious position well before the official news broke in August. Prime Trust, after reporting significant customer fund shortfalls, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware. Claiming liabilities of up to $500 million, the custodian estimated working with around 25,000 to 50,000 creditors.
Earlier in June, Nevada’s state business regulator had handed Prime Trust a cease and desist order, in light of the alleged financial insufficiency. Cryptocurrency exchanges, including BitGo and CoinMetro, had also signaled service disruptions linked to Prime Trust during this period.
Crypto enthusiasts were quick to react, with some even claiming that Prime Trust was “going bust” on June 22. Responses ranged from suspicions of a “Ponzi scheme” to skepticism at the “temporary” cessation of withdrawals. Such reservations only grew more substantial after Prime Trust’s bankruptcy news became public.
Fold, a financial service provider that issues Bitcoin rewards debit cards and operates a Bitcoin-back shopping app, also found itself in the crosshairs of critics. The bone of contention was Fold’s switch to Fortress Trust as its custodian in June when Prime Trust started displaying signs of instability. Critics pointed out that Fortress Trust was established by Scott Purcell, the same entrepreneur who founded and subsequently left Prime Trust in 2021.
While crypto-related bankruptcy cases have been on the rise, this one brings to the forefront certain issues that could reshape how the community views custodians and exchanges. Does a custodian’s past influence its perceived trustworthiness? Can initial community rumblings carry enough weight to predict major financial disruptions? Should crypto exchanges be held accountable for disruptions in operations, especially during crises involving their partner companies?
The answers aren’t clear, but one thing’s for sure: in the crypto space, where volatility is the norm, it pays to follow the money and closely monitor interactions between different players.
Source: Cointelegraph
