Gemini Earn creditors face potential 70% cut in crypto payouts

Gemini Trust has proposed a reorganization plan that could result in creditors of its Gemini Earn program facing up to a 70% reduction in their expected cryptocurrency payouts.

Gemini Trust announced through an X post on Dec. 13 that it had dispatched an email to creditors outlining the proposed payout plan, which has now been put up for a vote.

Under the proposed plan, creditors are set to receive payouts corresponding to their Earn crypto balances as of Jan. 19, 2023, the date when Genesis Global Capital, Gemini’s crypto lending partner, filed for bankruptcy.

However, the value of major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) was considerably lower at that time compared to their current market prices.

James Seyffart, an analyst at Bloomberg specializing in exchange-traded funds, labeled the plan “brutal.” He pointed out the stark contrast in cryptocurrency values, noting that at the time of the plan’s basis, Bitcoin and Ether were priced at $20,940 and $1,545, respectively, compared to their current values of $42,794 and $2,276.

Under the worst-case scenario of a 61% recovery rate, a creditor’s Bitcoin holding in their Gemini Earn account would effectively be valued at just $12,773. This figure represents a mere 30% of Bitcoin’s current market value.

Creditors have been given a deadline of Jan. 10, 2024, at 4 pm Eastern Time to cast their vote on the proposed plan.

Should the plan be accepted, it will then be subject to final approval by the bankruptcy court overseeing the case, with a decision expected on Feb. 14, 2024.

Gemini users’ outcry against proposed payout plan

The significant potential reduction in payouts has provoked a strong backlash from Gemini’s customers.

Many have expressed their displeasure on the platform, with some users condemning the proposal as a “spit in our faces” and an “absolute disgrace.”

Some accused Gemini of misleading its customers for more than a year, citing the company’s previous assurances that it would not face counterparty risk from its association with Genesis.

Another X user, BC, said everyone should be paid back in full. “Anything less is unacceptable.”

The Gemini Earn program allowed users to earn interest on their cryptocurrency holdings. Prior to Genesis’s bankruptcy, Gemini had withdrawn hundreds of millions of dollars from the firm to support the program.

The cryptocurrency exchange is now seeking to recover $1.6 billion from Genesis for Earn users.