The role of the Digital Chamber in the Bitcoin Wallet ownership case

Trade Association Digital Chamber Intervenes in Lawsuit Regarding Ownership of 39.069 Inactive Bitcoin Wallets

8 July 2026 on 06: 51

Reading time: 2 minutes

The Digital Chamber, a leading blockchain trade association, has filed an amicus curiae brief in a New York lawsuit disputing ownership of thousands of inactive Bitcoin addresses. This second amicus curiae brief aims to refute the claims of ownership being made in court. The association argues that considering inactive wallets as abandoned property would create a “pervading cloud of uncertainty” surrounding custodial wallets.

According to the Digital Chamber, a ruling relying on the plaintiffs' theory would undermine the foundations of digital property, with far-reaching consequences that could affect the traditional financial sector. The lawsuit was filed by 'Noah Doe' and two Wyoming-based companies in late May, which claim 39.069 inactive Bitcoin addresses. This could well become a key test of how inactive cryptocurrencies can be treated under the state's lost-property law.

The addresses in question contain an estimated 3,7 million Bitcoin (BTC), with a value of about 234 billion dollars, and include some wallet addresses possibly linked to Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious founder of Bitcoin, according to Sani, founder of the analytics platform Timechain Index.

The Digital Chamber positions itself as the oldest and largest trade association for digital assets, with more than 250 members, including crypto exchanges, banks, investment firms, and other actors within the industry.

Several of the long-inactive Bitcoin wallets mentioned in the lawsuit are slowly starting to become active again. In June, as many as 31 of these claimed addresses moved a total of 17.527 Bitcoin, as opposed to the five addresses that transferred 4.834 BTC in February, according to Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy Digital. A specific Bitcoin address, “1KV47”, completed its first transaction in nearly fifteen years, transferring 30 BTC worth approximately $1,88 million on Saturday.

Regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, it remains unclear how the plaintiffs can gain control over these assets without possessing the private keys of the wallets. On Thursday, a pseudonymous defendant filed a court statement to make their voice heard, claiming that they have control over one of the inactive wallets mentioned in the lawsuit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the implications of the Digital Chamber's amicus brief for the crypto market?
The amicus brief emphasizes the value of custodial wallets and could mean that a potential ruling in favor of the plaintiffs would constitute a breach of the rights of crypto investors. This could lead to increased legal uncertainty in the sector.

How does the claim regarding inactive wallets relate to broader legislation surrounding digital assets?
The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for how inactive cryptocurrencies are treated within the context of lost property laws, which in turn could have implications for legislators and regulators across Europe.

What does it mean that inactive wallets are re-executing transactions?
The reactivation of these wallets may indicate a potentially increasing importance of these assets, but it also raises questions regarding ownership rights and the question of who truly has control over this cryptocurrency without access to the private keys.

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