Celsius: Crypto Lending Company Emerges from Bankruptcy
Celsius, a well-known crypto lending company that faced bankruptcy in July 2022, has successfully resolved its financial issues and is now ready to compensate its users who were unable to withdraw their cryptocurrencies from the platform. The majority of Celsius creditors, accounting for 98%, have approved the fund recovery plan proposed by the company. The plan includes cash refunds and participation in a mining company called “Ionic Digital Inc.” which specializes in Bitcoin mining. With this development, Celsius aims to resume its operations in the cryptocurrency market. However, it’s important to note that the value of Celsius’ utility token CEL has suffered a significant decline and is unlikely to regain its previous stature.
Celsius Successfully Resolves Bankruptcy Situation
Celsius, the crypto lending company, announced that it has emerged from its bankruptcy situation. After months of restructuring, Celsius secured an investment from the Fahrenheit LLC consortium, enabling them to compensate their affected investors. Celsius plans to return approximately $3 billion to its creditors, with most of them being retail users who experienced withdrawal issues in 2022. The repayment plan involves providing payments in cryptocurrencies and offering stakes in Ionic Digital Inc., a Bitcoin mining company. Additionally, Celsius has resolved disputes with several regulatory bodies. Despite this positive development, Celsius’ utility token CEL has experienced a significant drop in value and may struggle to recover.
Reimbursement and Future Plans
The reimbursement plan for Celsius’ creditors was approved by 98% of them. While it remains unclear how much will be paid in cash versus stock, Celsius has converted its altcoins into BTC or ETH to increase its liquid availability. The company plans to discontinue its mobile and web applications by February 28th and distribute creditor payments through platforms like PayPal, Venmo, and Coinbase. Celsius’ restructuring team has successfully resolved disputes with various regulatory bodies, including the United States Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The company’s founder, Alex Mashinsky, still faces legal issues related to fraud and market manipulation charges.
CEL Token’s Negative Performance
While Celsius is preparing to reenter the crypto market, its utility token CEL has experienced a significant decline in value. When withdrawals were suspended in 2022, CEL’s price against the dollar plummeted. Manipulation attempts further worsened its performance. From its historical highs in 2021, CEL has lost approximately 98% of its value and currently stands at $0.17 per token. In contrast to the broader crypto market’s growth, CEL’s value declined by 70% in 2023. The platform’s reputation has been tarnished, making it difficult for CEL to regain its previous popularity. With selling pressure persisting, CEL’s market capitalization is just $73 million, indicating a challenging year ahead for the token.
Hot Take: Celsius Recovers from Bankruptcy but Faces Challenges Ahead
Celsius has successfully emerged from bankruptcy and resolved its financial troubles by securing an investment from the Fahrenheit LLC consortium. The company plans to compensate its creditors and resume operations in the cryptocurrency market. However, Celsius’ utility token CEL has suffered a significant decline in value and faces challenges in regaining prominence. While the repayment plan brings some relief to affected users, there are doubts about CEL’s future given its damaged reputation and low market capitalization. It remains to be seen whether Celsius can regain its position as a prominent player in the crypto lending space.