The exchange platform Mt. Gox, a victim of a historic hack in 2014, has announced a one-year postponement of repayment to its creditors. This surprise announcement has shaken the market: while alleviating fears of a massive Bitcoin sell-off, it has also reignited concerns among victims. Will the creditors ever recover their money?

Additional Delay to Finalize Repayments

The trustee of Mt. Gox's bankruptcy, Nobuaki Kobayashi, announced on October 10th that the deadline for repayments would be extended to October 31, 2025. This extension aims to allow the maximum number of creditors to receive their funds. Since last July, Mt. Gox has already proceeded with the repayment of approximately 21,000 creditors in Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. However, many beneficiaries have still not received their funds due to administrative or technical complications. This extension should help resolve these issues and ensure a more complete distribution of the remaining assets. Mt. Gox's wallet still holds nearly 45,000 BTC, equivalent to $2.75 billion at the current rate.

Potential Impact on the Crypto Market

The announcement of this postponement has sparked some optimism in the crypto market. Indeed, the prospect of a massive short-term Bitcoin injection into the market is moving away, which could reduce selling pressure. Some analysts believe that this decision could help stabilize the Bitcoin price in the coming months. However, other experts caution against excessive optimism, reminding that the market remains subject to many other factors. It is also worth noting that this postponement prolongs the uncertainty for Mt. Gox creditors, some of whom have been waiting for their repayments for nearly a decade. This situation could further enhance distrust towards centralized exchange platforms and reinforce the appeal of decentralized solutions.

Long-term Prospects and Market Resilience

In summary, the postponement of the Mt. Gox repayment deadline offers temporary relief to the crypto market but also highlights the ongoing challenges related to regulation and security in this ever-evolving ecosystem.

Thus, the new postponement of Mt. Gox payments brings temporary relief to the cryptocurrency market but also underscores ongoing and new challenges for investors and regulation.