After a month-long hiatus, the peer-to-peer Bitcoin marketplace Paxful has made a triumphant return to the online sphere. The platform’s shutdown in April was reportedly due to a lawsuit filed by one of its co-founders, Artur Schaback, against the then-presiding CEO and fellow co-founder Ray Youssef in January 2023. According to statements from Youssef, Schaback’s “nasty” lawyers drove key officials away from the company, leaving a severely crippled workforce.
In an effort to safeguard customer funds, a judge from the Delaware Chancery Court appointed a legal custodian to oversee withdrawals from Paxful on April 10. Tragedy struck once more as Youssef resigned from his position as CEO on April 21, following the dispute and dissolution of the exchange. Before leaving his post, he attempted to consolidate the team to ensure the smooth processing of customer transactions and withdrawals.
It seems as though the tireless efforts of Paxful’s team have paid off, as the platform announced in a May 8 blog post that it was back up and running. The team stated, “Over the last month, our team has worked diligently to get the marketplace back online with the safety and security of users paramount.”
Despite the triumphant return, Paxful has not provided any updates on the ongoing lawsuit or any changes in the company’s leadership. This lack of transparency has puzzled some industry participants. One user, Pledditor, tweeted their confusion, saying, “I’m honestly very confused. Ray resigned 2 weeks ago and closed Paxful down. Without proper explanation of what is going on (which they have not given), I don’t think you should trust this exchange anymore.”
Given the circumstances, it is essential to weigh the pros and cons of utilizing Paxful’s services. The platform has more than 6 million registered users and has facilitated over $6 billion in trades since its 2015 launch, gaining significant popularity in regions such as South America, Africa, and India. On the other hand, the sudden shutdown, ongoing legal matters, and lack of communication from the company raises red flags about its trustworthiness.
For those considering using the services of Paxful, it’s crucial to assess the risks associated with this platform. As always, cautious optimism is advised when investing in the ever-changing world of cryptocurrency.
Source: Decrypt
