Genesis and DCG Creditors to Recover up to 110% of Their Funds in New Comp Plan?

Genesis and its parent company, the Digital Currency Group (DCG), have proposed a compensation plan for over 230,000 retail creditors.

This move aims to relieve users of Gemini’s Earn Program and is to be voted on later this year, potentially resulting in creditors recovering between 95-110% of their claims.

Genesis Earn Users to Get Potential Full Recovery

Genesis provided financial support for Earn, a program available to customers of the Gemini crypto exchange. However, this became problematic when Genesis was forced to stop withdrawals and file for bankruptcy protection.

Earlier assurances from Genesis’ and DCG’s attorneys had placed potential recoveries at up to 90% of the U.S. dollar equivalent of unsecured creditors’ holdings. However, the recent filing paints a more optimistic picture.

An anonymous senior DCG official stated in a recent interview,

“Earn customers could potentially recover between $440 million and $765 million from the claims. The estimated distribution from this claim ranges from $400 million to $535 million. Additionally, the Earn customers will acquire the $600+ million collateral from Gemini. The cumulative recoveries may surpass a billion dollars, mirroring their total claims. Essentially, this depicts a full restitution for the current customers under the given circumstances.”

Earn customers’ claims are evaluated based on potential returns from the bankruptcy estate of Genesis. Additionally, collateral from Gemini users, totaling more than 30 million Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) shares, valued at approximately $607 million, is also considered.

Compensation Plan Headed for End-Year Approval

According to an Aug. 29 agreement draft, certain repayments might be made in kind, implying that some cryptocurrency investors will receive payments in cryptocurrency rather than US dollars.

The filing states that DCG plans to present a revised version of the proposed plan by Oct. 6 and aims to obtain voting results by Dec. 5, guaranteeing timely distribution afterward.

Genesis’ lending arm filed for bankruptcy in January due to the collapse of hedge fund Three Arrows Capital and issues at the crypto exchange FTX. Negotiations regarding DCG’s financial contribution mainly caused the delay in resolving.

A public feud between Gemini exchange owners Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and DCG founder Barry Silbert unfolded during this time. The recent filing also accused Gemini of neglecting to assist their customers during the bankruptcy proceedings.