U.S. Department of Justice seeks claimants to funds seized from crypto exchange in 2018

U.S. officials are seeking people who may have claims against the holdings of CoinGather, an obscure crypto exchange seized in 2018.

The exchange was seized in March 2018, a move that came months after the exchange reportedly went offline and its administrators disappeared – actions fueling the belief that an exit scam had taken place. As Bitcoin.com noted in a November 2017 report, the exchange was small volume-wise (less than $100,000, according to CoinMarketCap data at the time).

Still, social media evidence suggested that the exchange had at least some customers – and now, the U.S. Department of Justice is trying to find those possibly impacted by the closure.

According to an April 29 post:

"The United States is seeking to forfeit any and all cryptocurrency or other digital assets contained in virtual currency wallets residing on the Dell PowerEdge Server, serial number JNFHSW1. These wallets were accessible through the 'CoinGather' cryptocurrency exchange, previously available online at www.coingather.com. If you were a registered CoinGather user with cryptocurrency in a CoinGather wallet on November 21, 2017, you may have a valid claim."

A warrant of arrest directed at the server, data April 15, does not disclose how much money the government is actually looking to forfeit. However, in terms of the timing for potential claimants, the warrant notes: "Please be advised that if you want to become a claimant in this action, you must file a claim within thirty five (35) days after the date this notice was sent to you, which is indicated on the enclosed certificate of service; and an answer to the Complaint for Forfeiture, or Rule 12 motion, within twenty-one (21) days after the filing of your claim."