Terraform Labs files for bankruptcy to challenge a case against the SEC challenging jurisdiction over crypto assets. Amani CEO disputes jurisdiction over cryptocurrency regulation and digital asset classification.
Terraform Labs, the company behind TerraClassicUSD, recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a strategic move aimed at facilitating an appeal of a case from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This major ruling allows the company to potentially file a complaint without the need to post a “substitution bond” normally required for such legal proceedings. The guarantee would have been 110% of the total settlement, which represented a significant financial burden on Terraform Labs.
In a filing with a Delaware bankruptcy court on Jan. 30, CEO Chris Amani emphasized the importance of the bankruptcy filing to the firm’s strategy for appealing the SEC’s enforcement action. Amani disputed the SEC’s claim, arguing that Terraform Labs’ crypto assets should not be classified as securities, thus arguing that the case falls outside the SEC’s jurisdiction. He also revealed the firm’s holdings in various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Luna tokens.
The SEC filed charges against Terraform Labs and its former CEO Do Kwon in February 2023, accusing them of orchestrating a multi-billion dollar crypto-asset securities fraud involving tokens such as UST and LUNA. This lawsuit came after the collapse of the Terra Money ecosystem in May 2022, which led to significant financial consequences and Kwon’s eventual arrest in March 2023 for using forged travel documents.
The Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing is seen as a strategic move to support the company’s operations and the broader Terra community. Facing a complex financial and legal landscape, with assets and liabilities ranging from $100 million to $500 million, and having between 100 and 199 creditors, Terraform Labs is dealing with its significant legal challenges.
This case has broader implications for the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry, particularly regarding regulatory oversight and the classification of crypto assets as securities. This is a closely watched case as it could set a precedent for how crypto firms interact with regulators like the SEC and deal with legal challenges.
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