Get the scoop on finance - sign up for mobile alerts
Regulators
| On
August 23, 2022

Creditors of Bankrupt Voyager Digital Oppose Company Giving Out Bonuses to Employees

By Daily Hodl Staff

An embattled crypto brokerage firm is under fire for seeking to pay out nearly $2 million as part of an employee retention package.

According to a new filing in a New York bankruptcy court, lawyers speaking on behalf of a group of unsecured creditors are disputing Voyager Digital’s proposed Key Employee Retention Plan (KERP).

ADVERTISEMENT

“At a time when thousands of creditors struggle to pay basic personal expenses due to the Debtors’ flawed business model, the Debtors now seek to pay bonuses to their already well-compensated employees.

And despite customer heartaches, many of which are set forth in dozens of letters filed on the docket, the Debtors have taken no measures to reduce headcount. This stands in stark contrast to how some of the most prominent cryptocurrency companies have reacted since the start of the ‘crypto winter…’”

The court document says Voyager’s plan includes the following provisions while seeking permission to outlay a maximum of $1.9 million for employee compensation,

“The Participants consist of 38 employees who perform various duties, including accounting, cash and digital asset management, IT infrastructure, legal, and human resources.

ADVERTISEMENT

Pursuant to the KERP, the Debtors seek authority to award the Participants with two equal cash payments equal to 25% of each Participant’s annual salary…”

The new filing questions whether the plan passes the “sound business judgment” test, including whether the cost of the bonuses would be reasonable under Voyager’s current situation and what method of due diligence was conducted prior to the proposal.

The document concludes,

“The facts and circumstances do not support making payments to the Participants outside the ordinary course of business, and thus, the Motion should be denied.”

Back in early July, Voyager halted all trading, deposits and withdrawals for customers after a prominent borrower, crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital (3AC), failed to pay back a loan worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

ADVERTISEMENT

Several weeks later, the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) accused the firm of falsely representing its deposit insurance status in violation of the Deposit Insurance Act.

Voyager received court approval earlier this month to allow customers to resume cash withdrawals.

Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox
Check Price Action
Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Surf The Daily Hodl Mix
&nbsp
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.

Featured Image: Shutterstock/JLStock/Sol Invictus