New York Lawsuit Targets 3.79 Million Dormant Bitcoins

A lawsuit filed in New York seeks to claim ownership of approximately 3.79 million Bitcoin, which is said to be held in dormant addresses. According to court documents, the plaintiffs argue that the cryptocurrency can be treated as recoverable property under New York law.

The case involves a complex set of circumstances, including a notice campaign launched by Salomon Brothers Strategic Advisors and a series of OP_RETURN messages sent to wallet holders. The plaintiffs claim that they identified three sets of dormant digital wallets between December 2024 and April 2025 and took steps to notify potential owners.

The lawsuit has drawn attention from the crypto community due to its unusual approach and potential implications. Bitcoin users are likely to focus on a narrower but more fundamental issue: an address can be dormant for various reasons, including loss of keys or intention not to move coins.