NY attorney general expands crypto lawsuit, sees $3 billion fraud

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Friday expanded her lawsuit against Digital Currency Group and other cryptocurrency defendants, tripling the size of their alleged fraud scheme to more than $3 billion.

James had in October sued DCG, its Genesis Global Capital unit, and Gemini Trust, the exchange run by twin brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss.

She claimed they caused more than $1 billion of losses by misleading investors about the Gemini Earn program, which let customers lend crypto assets to Genesis in exchange for a high rate of return.

The attorney general said it had become clear as more investors came forward that "the scam perpetrated by DCG through Genesis" also ensnared investors who sent money directly to Genesis and were falsely assured their money was safe.

Many of the additional investors were retail customers, including a chiropractor and a stay-at-home father who each invested $2 million of bitcoin with Genesis, the complaint said.

James is seeking more than $3 billion of restitution for the more than 230,000 investors who she believes were defrauded.

"This illegal cryptocurrency scheme, and the horrific financial losses that real people have suffered, are yet another reminder of why stronger cryptocurrency regulations are needed to protect all investors," James said in a statement.

DCG said Friday that James' lawsuit was "baseless" and that it expects to win in court.

"DCG has always conducted its business lawfully and with integrity, and DCG and Barry Silbert will be fully vindicated," it said in a statement.

Genesis is shutting down after filing for bankruptcy in January 2023.

Late Thursday, it reached a settlement with James' office, agreeing to pay on her fraud claims so long as it fully repays