Cryptocurrency & Digital Assets

Advising a litigant in proceedings before the High Court of St Vincent and the Grenadines in relation to a crypto fraud where one of crypto exchange servers was domiciled in the UAE. Martin advised on bringing proceedings in the ADGM Courts and DIFC Courts for Norwich Pharmacal Orders and Freezing Orders. Martin's work in the preparation to bring these claims resulted in a settlement by the UAE domiciled litigant.

For Receivers in a $3bn+ Crypto-asset Civil Recovery order

Acting for the respondent crypto investor and offshore companies in a substantial s994 petition, in a hard fought and complex dispute concerning “Coinomi”, said to be the first multi-chain wallet, and the broadest non-custodial wallet (supporting more than 125 blockchains). The case involved substantial issues concerning the tracing of a very large number of movements of a wide range of high value coins and tokens.

Acting for a major cryptocurrency exchange in a claim by a customer following a hack of the exchange, resulting in the theft of some 20,000 BTC

Representing a HNW third party individual seeking to recover £18m in Bitcoins that are affected by restraint proceedings.

Acting for Alternative Power Solution Ltd in an appeal to the Privy Council from Mauritius. This case concerned the so-called “fraud exception” in relation to letters of credit.

Representative action following the collapse of one of DeFi’s most significant algo-stablecoins.

Acting for a major cryptocurrency exchange in a claim by a well known crypto investor, who claimed that by virtue of holding certain BTC/XRP derivatives, he was entitled (by contract or trust) to 902.109 BCH, following the hard fork that created BCH. This dispute involved in particular issues about the technical and juridical mechanics behind the creation of BTC/XRP derivatives.

Civil Recovery proceedings (shāzhūpán) against Binance and Ors. in the Cayman Islands

Advising in relation to cryptocurrency money laundering case in an offshore jurisdiction.

Represented a major Dubai bank in opposing a mandatory interim injunction requiring the bank to keep thousands of prepaid debit cards used by low income workers operational.

As well as representing the DPP and the Trustee holding the bitcoin, acting for many thousands of Chinese victims of an investment scheme that transpired to be a Ponzi fraud. They are advancing a proprietary claim to a significant share of Bitcoin currently worth $5.5 billion that is held by the UK authorities pursuant to a property freezing order issued by the High Court.

Acting for a major cryptocurrency exchange in a large claim by a depositor, which claimed to have suffered substantial losses following a phishing attack on the depositor.

Representing the police in resisting applications by a crypto assets trading platform to set aside account freezing orders and in extant forfeiture proceedings.

Acting in offshore crypto-asset recovery matters and advising on cross-border enforcement.

Acting for DPP where summary judgment was granted on a claim for a civil recovery order in respect of Bitcoin held in an overseas crypto exchange by a UK national living in Dubai.

Provisional liquidation under s.130 of the Insolvency Act in relation to $3.5 Billion Bitcoin.

Representing overseas individuals of foreign crypto investment fraud in UK litigation.

Acting for the founders of the Litecoin cryptocurrency in a claim to prevent a Company registered in England and Wales from passing off the goodwill associated with the 'Litecoin' mark. The appeal decision has frequently been referred to as establishing a new cause of action in relation to the law of passing off.

Instructed to assist in an international co-operation in relation to cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering.