Judge Stays Lawsuit Over Ownership of Nearly 40,000 Dormant Bitcoin

A New York Supreme Court judge has stayed a lawsuit concerning the ownership of nearly 40,000 dormant Bitcoin, pausing one of the largest cryptocurrency property disputes ever filed in the United States while the court considers a proposed amicus brief at a hearing set for July.

What the stay means for the ownership dispute

The stay, reported by The Block, halts proceedings in the case rather than resolving the underlying question of who owns the Bitcoin. A stay is a procedural pause, not a final judgment, and it leaves the dispute unresolved while the court evaluates additional legal arguments.

The venue is the New York Supreme Court, which in New York’s judicial system functions as a trial-level court. The judge’s decision to schedule a July hearing on a proposed amicus brief suggests that outside parties have sought to weigh in on the legal questions at stake.

New York’s Abandoned Property Law may be central to the case, as the state has established legal frameworks for handling unclaimed assets, including digital property.

Why nearly 40,000 dormant Bitcoin anchors this case

The lawsuit centers on ownership of nearly 40,000 Bitcoin that have remained unmoved in their wallets for years. At current valuations, the holdings represent a multi-billion dollar claim, with CoinDesk reporting the dispute at roughly $28.5 billion.

The term “dormant” refers to Bitcoin that has not been transferred or spent for an extended period. In this case, the coins are described as Satoshi-era Bitcoin, meaning they were mined in the earliest days of the network and have sat untouched for approximately 14 years.

The sheer scale of the holdings makes this case unusual. Large dormant wallets from Bitcoin’s earliest period have long attracted speculation about their origins, and any court ruling on their ownership could set precedent for how similar disputes, including questions around corporate Bitcoin treasury strategies, are handled in the future.

Next steps to watch

The July hearing on the proposed amicus brief will be the next procedural milestone. The identity and arguments of the parties seeking amicus status could reveal whether institutional players, government entities, or other claimants believe they have a stake in the outcome.

Galaxy Research has published analysis examining the intersection of Satoshi-era Bitcoin, abandoned property law, and the specific claims in this case, suggesting the dispute has drawn attention from major crypto research firms.

Ownership remains unresolved, and the stay ensures no assets will change hands while the court considers additional briefing. For those tracking legal and regulatory battles over large Bitcoin holdings, the July hearing date is the next concrete event on the calendar.

The outcome could also carry implications for how courts treat dormant digital assets more broadly, particularly as questions around custody and control of crypto assets continue to evolve across jurisdictions.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.