Ripple Ex-CTO Jabs Lawsuit Over 3.79M Abandoned Bitcoins

TLDR

• A New York lawsuit seeks control of 39,069 dormant Bitcoin wallets holding 3.79 million BTC.
• David Schwartz mocked the claim, saying only BSV might follow such a court order later.
• The complaint cites New York abandoned property law and NYPD reports for support in court.
• Bitcoin nodes would not move coins unless private keys or network rules changed by force.
• Named wallets include alleged Satoshi addresses, early miners, Casascius coins, and wallets tied to hackers.

A New York lawsuit has drawn attention across the crypto market. The case seeks legal control of 39,069 dormant Bitcoin wallets. Those wallets reportedly hold about 3.79 million BTC.

Ripple ex-CTO David Schwartz reacted with a sharp post on X. He suggested Bitcoin SV may be the only chain to follow such an order. His comment added new focus to the lawsuit.

Lawsuit Targets Dormant Bitcoin Wallets

The lawsuit was filed in New York in May 2026, according to the supplied report. It seeks to name a claimant called Noah Doe as the legal owner. The claim covers dormant Bitcoin wallets with large balances.

The complaint cites New York abandoned property law. It also says reports were filed with the NYPD. The plaintiffs used those filings to support their claim over the wallets.

The addresses include wallets linked to early Bitcoin miners. They also include wallets tied to Casascius Coins and unknown holders. Some addresses are linked to alleged hackers and other unnamed entities.

The complaint also names wallets attributed to Satoshi Nakamoto. However, early Bitcoin wallet ownership remains hard to prove. Many addresses from that period have never moved coins.

Schwartz Mocks Court Claim Over BTC

David Schwartz responded after another X user questioned the case. That user said a court might approve “something dumb like this.” The same post also said the ruling may carry little real force.

Schwartz replied with a short remark. He wrote, “BSV might honor it.” The comment referred to Bitcoin SV, a fork linked to Craig Wright.

His response pointed to a wider debate about blockchain control. Bitcoin does not have a central operator. Because of that, courts cannot order one company to move dormant BTC.

The remark also drew attention because BSV has taken different governance paths. Critics say those choices make it more open to court pressure. Bitcoin supporters often reject that model.

Bitcoin Nodes Would Likely Ignore Any Order

Bitcoin works through independent nodes across the world. These nodes follow shared network rules. They do not change balances because of a court filing.

A court order could matter in a narrow case. That would require access to private keys. Without those keys, dormant wallets cannot spend coins.

The lawsuit may still create legal debate in New York. Yet it cannot force Bitcoin software to move coins. It also cannot identify owners without strong proof.

The case now sits at the center of a legal and crypto debate. It raises questions about abandoned property law and blockchain ownership. For now, the Bitcoin network remains outside direct court control

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