The past few weeks have been really hectic for the crypto and blockchain space and certain developments may have gone somewhat unnoticed. For instance, Yield App, which claimed to have been focused on unlocking the full potential of digital assets “with a simple, safe, and secure digital wealth platform,” announced the suspension of platform activity “ahead of liquidation proceedings.”
As part of its extremely abrupt communications with clients, the Yield App team stated via social media on June 28, 2024 that the Seychelles-incorporated limited liability company, is announcing the suspension of “all activity on the digital wealth platform http://yield.app as the company prepares to enter liquidation proceedings.”
Yield App has also mentioned that this “follows the realization of portfolio losses incurred through third-party hedge fund managers that held Yield App assets in custody on the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, and who are subject to ongoing litigation.”
With immediate effect, all activity “on http://yield.app will be halted as Yield App consults with liquidators.”
The company claims that this decision has “been made to ensure fair and equal treatment for all Yield App’s users and stakeholders.”
During this time, community channels “will be suspended while a support channel will remain open via https://yield.app.”
Yield App asks for “the patience of its valued customers as it works with its advisors, with whom it jointly commits to releasing further information, including detailed FAQs, at the earliest possible date.”
UPDATED FAQs
Yield App’s appointed liquidators, Cork Gully have updated their FAQs to provide further answers for Yield App customers and stakeholders ahead of the appointment of a claims administrator. To view them, please head to Yield App’s website https://t.co/zhpTEyBtA0.
— Yield App (@YieldApp) July 5, 2024
Yield App’s appointed liquidators, Cork Gully have updated their FAQs to “provide further answers for Yield App customers and stakeholders ahead of the appointment of a claims administrator.”
To review them, you may head to Yield App’s official website (http://yield.app).
While the scope and overall size of Yield App’s operations may not be as large as numerous failed crypto-focused companies like BlockFi, Celsius, among others, the company appears to have made some questionable claims for rather abruptly winding down its operations and/or entering liquidity proceedings.
Tim Frost, who had been working as the firm’s CEO, had noted back at the time of the FTX collapse that Yield App had not been significantly impacted by the demise of the SBF-led crypto exchange. Now, however, the firm appears to be largely attributing its problems with the fall of FTX. In extensive interviews with CI, the Yield App team had always expressed a lot of confidence in their ability to provide digital assets-focused services.
However, from the very start, the Yield App service experienced issues. For instance, some user(s) were allowed to open accounts with the platform but then their accounts were abruptly terminated due to regulatory issues. Yield App like many other crypto service providers such as Paxful have also not been handling customer / user information in the most secure manner. Even after being removed from these platforms, ex- customers continue to receive messages about various products and services.
Despite all the developments focused on ensuring compliance and consumer protection, the crypto space remains quite risky and extremely challenging to navigate, especially for newcomers or those individuals who may not be too technically savvy. If the industry wants to grow in a sustainable manner, it will have to gain the confidence of millions (and eventually billions) of users that it aims to serve. Due to the serious nature of these developments, it seems unlikely that the crypto sector, especially those platforms accepting and maintaining customer deposits, will be able to succeed.