n a surprising turn of events, creditors of the now-defunct Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox claim they are finally receiving fiat repayments for their trapped Bitcoin nearly ten years after the exchange's closure in February 2014. While the reports are yet to be officially confirmed, multiple Reddit users on the r/mtgoxinsolvency page shared their experiences, stating that Mt. Gox is sending Japanese Yen-denominated repayments via PayPal.
One Reddit user, Free-end254, posted a screenshot of the PayPal receipt, announcing, "I just got paid." Another user expressed initial skepticism, believing the email to be a phishing scam, only to confirm later that a payment had indeed been received in their PayPal account. However, some users noted that the repayments were partial, with one individual receiving 30,283 yen (approximately $200) for a 0.125 Bitcoin claim, leaving a substantial amount still pending.
The repayment process involves multiple tranches, including the base repayment, early lump-sum repayment, and intermediate repayment. Reports about the repayment saga began emerging on December 21, when a pseudonymous Japanese user claimed to have received Mt. Gox claims through a bank transfer, credited in Japanese Yen.
This development follows an email sent by Nobuaki Kobayashi, the trustee overseeing Mt. Gox's estate, on November 21, informing rehabilitation creditors about the commencement of repayments in cash in 2023. While the specific timing for individual creditors remains undisclosed, Kobayashi expects to continue the repayments throughout 2024. In September, the Mt. Gox Trustee extended the repayment deadline to October 31, 2024, but hinted at potential early repayments for creditors who had already submitted the required information.
The unfolding repayment process brings a glimmer of hope to the Mt. Gox saga, marking progress in addressing the longstanding concerns of affected creditors.