Many cryptocurrency lenders have declared bankruptcy. These loss
events are indicators of the significant losses the cryptocurrency
market has experienced this year.
For investors who have suffered, an important consideration is
how to capitalize on these losses. Accordingly, this article will
analyze the recent Celsius Network
("Celsius") bankruptcy and the tax
strategy of writing off bad debt.
The Celsius Bankruptcy
On July 13, 2022, Celsius filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection.1 From a lender once purporting to have $25
billion in assets under management, the company only held $167
million in "cash on hand" at the time of their bankruptcy
filing.2
Celsius was intended to operate as a traditional bank with the
promise of significant returns – nearly 20% annual percentage
yield. As an investor, a user could deposit cryptocurrency into
Celsius.3 The lender would then take these deposits and
loan them out to borrowers.4 The user would then receive
a