DCG Risks Defaulting on $630M in Debt Obligations, Gemini Says

Genesis has initiated a 30-day mediation process with DCG, UCC, Creditor Committee and Gemini to reach a final resolution as soon as possible

article-image

rafapress/Shutterstock modified by Blockworks

share

Digital Currency Group risks defaulting on its $630 million debt obligations to the Genesis bankruptcy estate, according to a statement released by Gemini on Friday.

Genesis said it has initiated a 30-day mediation process with Digital Currency Group (DCG), the Unsecured Creditors Committee (UCC), the Creditor Committee and Gemini to reach a final resolution as soon as possible.

The mediation is focused on DCG’s economic contribution to the bankruptcy estate for the “benefit of all creditors,” including Earn users — the exchange’s former lending program that halted operations in November.

Earn was eventually forced to close following DCG subsidiary Genesis Global Capital’s alleged failure to return more than $900 million in assets owed to it.

The proposed mediation provides for two meetings before May 8, an important date as DCG owes the Genesis bankruptcy estate $630 million on May 9 through to May 11.

If DCG is unable to pay or restructure its debt, the company risks defaulting on its obligations, Gemini said in its statement. Blockworks attempted to contact both DCG and Gemini but did not receive a reply by time of publication.

Gemini has also expressed its frustration with the pace of progress among the parties and the need for urgency, stating that they support the mediation process and look forward to working with the parties to bring this to a conclusion.

Both Gemini head Cameron Winklevoss and DCG boss Barry Silbert have engaged in a tit-for-tat since the year began.

According to Winklevoss, DCG owes Genesis $1.675 billion, which Silbert has allegedly been using to fund share buybacks, venture investments and Grayscale NAV trades that have significantly increased the Trust’s fee-generating assets under management.

Though Silbert has publicly denied those claims, stating his company has “never missed an interest payment to Genesis and is current on all loans outstanding.”

The next status conference with the court is scheduled for May 4 which will likely review the progress of the bankruptcy proceedings and hear updates from both parties.


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Javits Center North | 445 11th Ave

Tues - Thurs, March 24 - 26, 2026

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Research Report Templates (8).png

Research

Kinetiq has established itself as Hyperliquid's dominant liquid staking protocol, holding 82.5% of LST market share with $610M in TVL. The protocol is now expanding beyond its kHYPE staking core into higher take-rate verticals: iHYPE for institutional custody rails, Launch for HIP-3 capital formation, and Markets for builder-deployed perpetuals. We view Markets, launching Jan. 12, as the highest-potential product line given its mechanically scalable, activity-linked unit economics. Near-term revenue remains anchored by kHYPE's KIP-2 fee schedule (~$1.6M annualized), while Markets provides embedded optionality if HIP-3 economics normalize post-Growth Mode. KNTQ's setup is relatively clean: zero insider unlocks until November 2026, 6.2% buyback yield from staking revenue, and cleared airdrop overhang. Risks center on unproven Markets execution, declining kHYPE TVL despite ongoing incentives, and competition from Hyperliquid's native initiatives.

article-image

BTC finished the week up 1.6%, while L2s, RWAs and the treasury trade continued to grind lower

article-image

DTCC moves DTC-custodied Treasuries onchain via Canton, while Lighter’s LIT launches trading at a fees multiple in Hyperliquid territory

article-image

In the 90s, rapt audiences worldwide watched a coffee pot — will that fascination ever turn to crypto?

article-image

Some systems improve by failing — and crypto has no choice

article-image

Yield Basis introduces an IL-free AMM design that already dominates BTC DEX liquidity

article-image

Maybe tokenholders don’t need the rights that corporate shareholders have come to expect

Newsletter

The Breakdown

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Blockworks Research

Unlock crypto's most powerful research platform.

Our research packs a punch and gives you actionable takeaways for each topic.

SubscribeGet in touch

Blockworks Inc.

133 W 19th St., New York, NY 10011

Blockworks Network

NewsPodcastsNewslettersEventsRoundtablesAnalytics