Answer · confidence: partial
Which crypto companies collapsed or were charged with fraud, and where did money go?
Research question: Which exchanges, platforms, or schemes have collapsed or faced fraud charges, and what happened to customers' funds?
Mt. Gox, once the world's largest bitcoin exchange, went bankrupt in February 2014 after about 850,000 bitcoin disappeared through unauthorized access 12. About 750,000 of the lost bitcoin reportedly belonged to users 34, though some of the reported losses were later found in an old-format digital wallet 14. In a May 2026 Bloomberg report, the newest fact here, Mt. Gox creditors were given the right to demand return of up to 90% of the bitcoin remaining, but the actual amount left has not been clarified and creditors may wait until litigation ends 333635. Other cases include Gold Age, shut down by the US Secret Service in 2006 5, Liberty Reserve, closed in 2013 with over $40 million in assets seized 12, and the PlusToken Ponzi scheme, whose ringleaders were jailed over a $2.25 billion scheme 23; for Starlight, the funds of more than 6,000 customers were left in stalemate 27.
Checked 2026-10-18. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] supported
Mt. Gox, once the world's largest bitcoin exchange, went bankrupt in February 2014.
"かつて世界最大のビットコイン取引所だったマウントゴックスは、2014年2月に破産した。"クラーケン (暗号資産取引所)
[2] supported
On 28 February 2014, Mt. Gox announced that about 850,000 bitcoin (roughly 48 billion yen at the rate at the time) had disappeared through unauthorized access, and it then filed for civil rehabilitation at the Tokyo District Court, which led to its business collapse.
"そして同月28日、同社は 不正アクセス により約85万ビットコイン（当時のレートで約480億円相当）が消失 したことを公表、 東京地裁 に 民事再生法 の適用を申請し 経営破綻 に追い込まれた"マウントゴックス
[3] supported
Mt. Gox sought bankruptcy after reporting a loss of about $480 million in bitcoin.
"Mt. Gox Seeks Bankruptcy After $480 Million Bitcoin Loss"暗号通貨
[4] supported
On 7 February 2014, Mt. Gox stopped all bitcoin withdrawals for customers, after withdrawal delays had already caused rising complaints.
"2014年2月7日、マウントゴックスによる全てのビットコイン払い戻しが停止した"マウントゴックス
[5] supported
Gold Age Inc., a New York-based digital currency exchange operating since 2002, was shut down by the US Secret Service in 2006.
"2006年、2002年から運営されていたニューヨーク州の事業者である、米国を拠点とするデジタル通貨取引所 Gold Age Inc.は、米国シークレットサービスによって閉鎖された"暗号資産取引所
[6] supported
About $5 million worth of bitcoin vanished from exchanges in China, as reported in 2013.
"Banshee bitcoins: $5 million worth of bitcoin vanish in China"暗号通貨
[7] supported
After finding about 200,000 bitcoins, Karpelès left 650,000 BTC still unaccounted for.
"その後カルプレスは、約20万ビットコインを発見。残る行方不明のビットコインは65万BTCとなった"クラーケン (暗号資産取引所)
[8] supported
The operators of Gold Age were charged with running an illegal digital currency exchange and money transfer business from their apartments, moving over $30 million into digital currency accounts; customers could send funds worldwide with limited identification.
"運営者のアーサー・ブドフスキーとウラジーミル・カッツは、自分たちのアパートから「違法なデジタル通貨交換および送金業務」を行い、3,000万ドル以上をデジタル通貨アカウントに送金した疑いで起訴された"暗号資産取引所
[9] supported
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission brought a case against Shavers in a Texas federal court in 2013.
"SEC v Shavers , United States District Court Eastern District Of Texas, 08-06-2013"暗号通貨
[10] supported
In June 2011 a hacker drove the nominal price of bitcoin on the exchange down to 1 cent by using a compromised auditor's credential, with the effect valued at more than 8.75 million dollars.
"2011年6月19日、不正侵入者による ハッキング 行為により同社で取引されている ビットコイン の名目価格が僅か1セントに不当に引き下げられた。"マウントゴックス
[11] supported
At a September 2015 creditors' meeting, the Mt. Gox trustee said the Mt. Gox foundation had secured about 1.24 billion yen and 202,159 bitcoins, worth roughly 60 million dollars at the time, to repay creditors.
"2015年9月9日の債権者集会で、小林管財人はマウントゴックス財団が12億4206万8375円と20万2159ビットコイン（当時の価格で約6000万ドル）を確保したと発表した"クラーケン (暗号資産取引所)
[12] supported
Liberty Reserve, a digital currency exchange used to launder money, was closed in May 2013 after its alleged founders were arrested; over $40 million in assets were seized for forfeiture and about 30 domain names were seized, and it was estimated to have laundered $6 billion.
"4,000万ドル以上の資産が 没収 を前提として差し押さえられ、30以上のLiberty Reserve交換所の ドメイン名 が押収された"暗号資産取引所
[13] supported
Unlike traditional financial products, bitcoin has no intermediary able to limit consumer losses if coins are lost or stolen.
"しかしビットコインは消失したまたは盗まれた場合、消費者の損失を抑える権限を行使する仲介人が存在しない"暗号通貨
[14] supported
Some of the bitcoin reported as lost in the 2014 collapse was later found not to be missing, having been discovered in an old-format digital wallet.
"のちに約20万ビットコインは消失しておらず、旧式のデジタルウォレットから発見"マウントゴックス
[15] supported
Kraken was chosen by the Mt. Gox trustee to help investigate the missing bitcoins and return remaining funds, and in April 2015 it began accepting creditor claims through its website, requiring creditors to open a Kraken account.
"2015年4月、クラーケンはウェブサイトを通じてマウントゴックスの債権者の請求を受け入れ始めた。債権者たちは請求するためにクラーケンの口座を開設する必要があった。"クラーケン (暗号資産取引所)
[16] supported
Mt. Gox, then the largest cryptocurrency exchange, halted trading, closed its website, and filed for bankruptcy protection in Japan after bitcoins were stolen from its hot wallet over a long period starting in late 2011.
"2014年2月、当時最大の暗号資産取引所であった マウントゴックス （Mt. Gox）は、取引を停止し、ウェブサイトと交換サービスを閉鎖した上で、日本で債権者からの 破産 保護を申請した"暗号資産取引所
[17] supported
FTX, then the third-largest crypto exchange by trading volume and valued at $18 billion, filed for bankruptcy in a US court amid what the exchange called a liquidity crisis, and its collapse had financial effects beyond its direct customer base.
"2022年11月11日、当時 取引量 で第3位の暗号資産取引所であり、180億ドルと評価されていた FTX は、取引所が「 流動性危機 （ 英語版 ） 」と呼ぶ事態を受けて、 米国裁判所で破産手続き （ 英語版 ） に入った"暗号資産取引所
[18] supported
The filing warns that crypto asset platforms have been closed or temporarily shut down due to fraud, business failure, hackers or malware, or government-mandated regulation, causing losses to customers.
"the closure or temporary shutdown of crypto asset platforms due to fraud, business failure, hackers or malware, or government mandated regulation, and associated losses suffered by customers"F-1 Coincheck Group N.V. (CNCK, CNCKW) (CIK 0001913847) 2025-01-28
[19] supported
South Korean exchange Yapizon confirmed a $5 million hack and told all customers they would be paid out using their account balances.
"Korean Bitcoin Exchange Yapizon Confirms $5 mln Hack, All Customers to Pay with Balances"Centralized Exchange (CEX) Hacks and Attacks (Part 2) (2025)
[20] supported
A court receiver alleged that the CEO of the exchange Cryptsy stole millions of dollars from the exchange.
"Higgins, S., “Cryptsy CEO Stole Millions from Exchange, Court Receiver Alleges,” CoinDesk, August 11, 2016."Centralized Exchange (CEX) Hacks and Attacks (Part 1) (2025)
[21] supported
The Japanese-language-free source reports that the exchange Youbit shut down after a second hack attack.
"Bitcoin Exchange Youbit Shuts after Second Hack Attack"Centralized Exchange (CEX) Hacks and Attacks (Part 2) (2025)
[22] supported
Italian authorities alleged that the founder of the exchange BitGrail contributed to a loss of about $150 million.
"Partz, H., “BitGrail’s Founder Contributed to $150M Loss, Italian Authorities Allege,” CoinTelegraph, December 21, 2020."Centralized Exchange (CEX) Hacks and Attacks (Part 1) (2025)
[23] supported
The PlusToken Ponzi scheme ringleaders were jailed for a US$2.25 billion Ponzi scheme involving the PlusToken platform.
"Chinese Cryptocurrency Scam Ringleaders Jailed in US$2.25 Billion Ponzi Scheme Involving PlusToken Platform."Additional Cases and Trends in Cryptocurrency Fraud (2025)
[24] supported
Coincheck says customers' cash deposits are segregated in a money trust held with a trust bank, and customers' crypto assets are held in custody with a corresponding safeguard liability recorded on its balance sheet.
"Customer assets include cash deposited by customers, which is segregated in a money trust with a trust bank, and customers’ crypto assets, for which we maintain custody and a corresponding safeguard liability is recorded in our statement of financial position."F-1 Coincheck Group N.V. (CNCK, CNCKW) (CIK 0001913847) 2025-01-28
[25] supported
Russian exchange Livecoin shut down after an alleged hack.
"After Alleged Hack, Russian Crypto Exchange Livecoin Shuts Down"Centralized Exchange (CEX) Hacks and Attacks (Part 2) (2025)
[26] supported
A B.C.-based crypto trading platform was found to have defrauded customers of $13 million, according to the British Columbia Securities Commission.
"B.C. Securities Commission, “B.C.-Based Crypto Trading Platform Defrauded Customers of $13 Million,” Vancouver Sun, August 8, 2024."Centralized Exchange (CEX) Hacks and Attacks (Part 1) (2025)
[27] supported
The funds of more than 6,000 Starlight customers were left in stalemate, with agents at large, according to a report on the case.
"Investments of More Than 6,000 Starlight Customer in Stalemate, Agents at Large," July 19, 2022."Additional Cases and Trends in Cryptocurrency Fraud (2025)
[28] supported
The Seychelles-linked exchange Bilaxy lost $21 million in a hack.
"Crypto Exchange Bilaxy Loses $21M in Hack"Centralized Exchange (CEX) Hacks and Attacks (Part 2) (2025)
[29] supported
A Canadian crypto exchange was found guilty of gambling away $9.5 million of user funds, according to a judge.
"McCurdy, W., “Canadian Crypto Exchange Guilty of Gambling Away $9.5 Million in User Funds, Says Judge,” Decrypt, August 13, 2024."Centralized Exchange (CEX) Hacks and Attacks (Part 1) (2025)
[30] supported
A roughly $8 million wallet drain attack on the Bittensor network forced the network to shut down.
"$8M Theft Forces Bittensor Network Shutdown," CoinTelegraph, July 3, 2024."Additional Cases and Trends in Cryptocurrency Fraud (2025)
[31] supported
Taiwanese prosecutors indicted 32 individuals over a $24.5 million fraud scheme involving the ACE Exchange.
"Taiwanese Prosecutors Indict 32 Individuals Implicated in $24.5 Million ACE Exchange Fraud Scheme"Centralized Exchange (CEX) Hacks and Attacks (Part 2) (2025)
[32] supported
Mount Gox, a Tokyo-based exchange that was once among the largest bitcoin exchanges, collapsed after a large-scale theft of crypto assets in 2014.
"同社は2014年に発生した大規模な暗号資産の不正流出事件によって経営破綻しました。"マウントゴックス債権者「最大90％のビットコイン返還要求」が可能に＝Bloomberg - 仮想通貨ニュースメディア ビットタイムズ
[33] supported
Mount Gox creditors have been given the right to demand return of up to 90% of the bitcoin remaining after the collapse, according to a Bloomberg report.
"債権者に『破綻後に残されているビットコイン (BTC ) の最大90%を返還するよう求める権利』が与えられたことが「Bloomberg」の報道で明らかになりました。"マウントゴックス債権者「最大90％のビットコイン返還要求」が可能に＝Bloomberg - 仮想通貨ニュースメディア ビットタイムズ
[34] supported
About 850,000 BTC were lost in the Mount Gox incident, and about 750,000 BTC of that were reportedly belonging to users.
"なお、マウントゴックス事件で流出したビットコインは約85万BTC（現在価格：約3.2兆円）で、その内の約75万BTC（現在価格：約2.8兆円）がユーザーのものであるとされています"マウントゴックス債権者「最大90％のビットコイン返還要求」が可能に＝Bloomberg - 仮想通貨ニュースメディア ビットタイムズ
[35] supported
Creditors may choose to wait for the return of their assets until the litigation is resolved and the legal claim process ends.
"『訴訟問題が解決して法的な請求手続きが終了するまで資産の返還を待つこと』を選択することもできる"マウントゴックス債権者「最大90％のビットコイン返還要求」が可能に＝Bloomberg - 仮想通貨ニュースメディア ビットタイムズ
[36] supported
The actual amount of bitcoin remaining for creditors has not been clarified.
"『実際にどれくらいのBTCが残されているか』については現時点で明らかにされていません"マウントゴックス債権者「最大90％のビットコイン返還要求」が可能に＝Bloomberg - 仮想通貨ニュースメディア ビットタイムズ