Legal Experts Cast Doubt on Full Crypto Recovery for WazirX Users

As an analyst with years of experience navigating the volatile and complex landscape of the cryptocurrency industry, I must say that this recent hack at WazirX has left me both saddened and cautious. Having witnessed numerous incidents of theft and fraud within the crypto space, I can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu. However, it’s important to remember that each case is unique, and while the road ahead for WazirX customers may be rocky, there are always lessons to be learned.


It’s highly improbable that WazirX customers will fully regain the worth of their cryptocurrency assets after a significant hack in July caused a $234 million shortfall. As per legal specialists working on the restructuring, it is almost impossible to restore everyone’s holdings in crypto equivalence.

As a crypto investor, I found myself disheartened when George Gwee, a director at restructuring firm Kroll, revealed during a press conference that we can only anticipate recovering 55% to 57% of our initial investment. Unfortunately, it seems that around 43% of the value might be unrecoverable. Jason Kardachi, a managing director at Kroll, further clarified this grim outlook by stating that while external help or market improvement could potentially boost recovery, the extent of the loss makes it highly improbable to fully restore our original funds.

On Tuesday, the Singapore High Court will consider WazirX’s plea for six months of creditor protection while they work on reorganizing their financial obligations. This court ruling is significant since it will dictate the path forward for WazirX’s restructuring process and whether an extension might be granted to handle their financial commitments. The outcome could impact future regulations and industry practices related to digital asset platforms, potentially altering how these platforms respond during crises.

Challenges in Restructuring and Ownership Disputes

The ongoing reorganization becomes even more complex due to a disagreement over ownership between WazirX and Binance, the global leader in cryptocurrency exchanges. Although Binance declared the acquisition of WazirX at the end of 2019, this transaction has since been challenged, resulting in Binance withdrawing its technical support for WazirX in 2022. This ownership dispute introduces an extra level of ambiguity to the reorganization efforts, as the exchange attempts to establish its ownership structure and work out recovery plans amidst these negotiations.

Nischal Shetty, one of the co-founders at WazirX, admitted to these challenges, explaining that although the data is as of Monday, actions are being taken to bridge the gap towards recovery. The restructuring strategy involves distributing any leftover cryptocurrency assets proportionally to users and investigating possibilities for further capital influx through potential investors who could act as white knights.

Impact of the Hack and Future Prospects

The massive July hack, representing the biggest cryptocurrency heist in India’s history, has inflicted a heavy toll on WazirX’s financial resilience. Although the firm has suggested remedial steps to mitigate the damage, such as publicizing the “force majeure” consequences, the magnitude of the theft presents substantial hurdles.

Users are encouraged to keep updated on the ongoing events and consider the possibility of recovering a portion of their holdings. Legal advisors recommend that people adjust their expectations, taking into account the complexities surrounding WazirX’s reorganization process. Furthermore, grasping the legal safeguards and alternatives at their disposal during this restructuring phase could aid users in making well-informed decisions about their future actions.

Read More

Sorry. No data so far.

2024-09-02 15:51