Attorney Ordered to Pay Out $5.2M for Bitcoin Escrow Mishap

The New York attorney released the funds without authorization and lost investment firm Benthos Master Fund $4.6 million intended for a bitcoin purchase deal.

AccessTimeIconAug 14, 2020 at 8:56 a.m. UTC
Updated Sep 14, 2021 at 9:43 a.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

A New York attorney has been ordered to pay over $5 million to a crypto investment firm for dereliction of duty as an escrow agent.

  • The agent, Aaron Etra, will have to pay more than $5.25 million plus 4% interest ($59,887) for violating his contractual duties to San Francisco investment firm Benthos Master Fund, according to a document filed at the U.S. district court in the Southern District of New York on Wednesday.
  • Etra had been employed by Benthos to act as an escrow agent in 2018 and was entrusted with holding $5 million meant for the purchase of bitcoin.
  • The firm had arranged the bitcoin purchase agreement with a firm called Valkyrie Group, which had planned to buy 10,000 bitcoin from a Russian oligarch, according to Law360.
  • When Benthos saw that Etra was moving money out of escrow without authorization, the firm formally requested Etra cease all activity relating to the release of its funds.
  • Benthos argued to the court that the attorney released $4.6 million of its funds in violation of Etra's "contractual and fiduciary duties."
  • As a result, Benthos claims it received none of its expected bitcoin.
  • On June 28, 2019, Benthos began arbitration proceedings based on a clause in the escrow agreement.
  • Despite receiving formal notice of the bid to resolve the issue, and having communicated with the arbitrator via email, the attorney failed to appear at the March 17, 2020, arbitration hearing.
  • The arbitrator then awarded Benthos $5,254,561 on April 9, 2020, which included damages and the cost of arbitration, plus the pre-award interest.
  • He had previously been ordered to repay the firm's remaining $400,000.
  • When Etra attempted to appeal the decision as "one-sided" on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan said Etra "only has himself to blame" for having failed to appear or provide evidence.
  • Etra "was clearly required to arbitrate any disputes under the escrow agreement" and having failed to do so is now liable, the judge said in a court document filed on Thursday.

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.