Is Nexo Safe? Understanding Its Legal Battles and What They Mean for Investors

Nexo, a leading cryptocurrency lending platform, is currently entangled in several high-profile legal cases across different jurisdictions. Should its customers be worried? 

Nexo’s disputes range from investor lawsuits and regulatory challenges to internal disputes among co-founders and an international arbitration case against Bulgaria. Below is a breakdown of the most significant ongoing cases, and their potential to harm the company.

1. UK High Court Case – Dispute Over Nexo Ownership (Shulev v. Nexo)

Nature of the Case: A legal battle between Nexo and its former co-founder, Georgi Shulev, is ongoing in the UK’s High Court of Justice. Shulev alleges that he was denied a rightful ownership stake in Nexo and accuses the company of improperly retaining control over certain cryptocurrency holdings.

At the core of this dispute is a Ledger hardware wallet containing approximately $12 million in crypto, which Nexo claims belongs to the company, while Shulev disputes this assertion.

Status and Recent Developments:

• The case is currently in pre-trial discovery, with the High Court scheduled to hear it in mid-2026.
• In a separate but related case, another former Nexo partner, Sokol Iankov, claimed a 20% stake in the company (worth an estimated $800 million), but the High Court dismissed his claim on jurisdictional grounds on March 5th, 2025.
• The Shulev case remains active, and further hearings are expected later in 2025.

Potential Impact on Nexo:

• A ruling in favor of Shulev could force Nexo to transfer ownership of crypto assets or pay Shulev compensation.
• While the case highlights the challenges of informal agreements and corporate governance within the crypto sector, the amounts involved are insignificant in comparison to Nexo’s overall business. A loss by the company would be unlikely to impact its operations.

2. US Investor Lawsuit – Fraud Allegations (Cress v. Nexo)

Nature of the Case: John Cress, a private investor, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that Nexo misled him into making risky investment decisions based on false promises. The lawsuit claims Nexo exaggerated the safety of its platform and the benefits of holding its native NEXO token while inducing Cress to take out large cryptocurrency-backed loans.

Status and Recent Developments:

• Initially filed in February 2023, the case has undergone a partial dismissal but remains active.
• In October 2023, the court ruled that key fraud and misrepresentation claims would proceed, despite some elements being dismissed.
• Nexo has filed additional motions to dismiss, but the case is still in pre-trial discovery as of early 2025.

Potential Impact on Nexo:

• If Cress succeeds, Nexo could be ordered to refund him the money or assets he lost as a result of the liquidation of his loan’s collateral. As with the Shulev case above, the amounts in question would be insignificant in comparison to Nexo’s overall business.
• The greater risk for Nexo would be that a win by Cress could open the floodgates for similar actions by other Nexo clients who have lost money in loan liquidations – or a potential class action lawsuit by liquidated clients. Nonetheless, even in the case of a loss, Nexo can still appeal any decision and could choose to settle the claim at any point, meaning its potential operational impact would be unlikely to be significant.
• It is noteworthy that while the political and regulatory climate in the US is now pro-crypto under the Trump administration, the extent to which this positivity would exceed to a foreign-owned entity like Nexo is yet to be seen.

3. International Arbitration – Nexo vs. Bulgaria

Nature of the Case: In January 2023, Bulgarian authorities raided Nexo’s offices, alleging money laundering, tax violations, and unlicensed banking operations. Nexo claimed political persecution, and by the end of 2023, Bulgarian prosecutors dropped the case, citing a lack of evidence – which certainly endorsed Nexo’s position.

However, Nexo was not prepared to let things end there and claimed that the investigation caused severe reputational and financial damage, prompting it to file a $3 billion arbitration claim against the Bulgarian government at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Status and Recent Developments:

• In January 2024, ICSID formally registered Nexo’s claim.
• Bulgaria has acknowledged receipt of the case and is preparing its defense, but no hearings have been scheduled yet
• The arbitration process is expected to take several years.

Potential Impact on Nexo:

• If successful, Nexo could recover a substantial amount in damages, potentially funding expansion or investor payouts.
• The case sets a precedent for crypto companies challenging government enforcement actions through international law, potentially shaping future regulatory approaches worldwide. The recent dropping of the SEC’s case against Ripple – and the failure of other major crypto prosecutions, has shown that well-funded corporations have the potential to push back hard against government overreach.

Conclusion

Nexo is a major player in the international neo-banking sector. Its current legal battles are expected to continue for years, with the option to appeal lower court rulings or settle claims at any stage. While the cases covered above are unlikely to pose a significant operational risk to Nexo’s clients and investors, the stance of the incoming Trump administration on foreign crypto firms remains a key factor.

Given its strong “America First” and protectionist agenda, investors should closely monitor how regulatory policies evolve, as they could impact Nexo’s business and the broader crypto industry for non-US-founded entities.

Disclaimer:The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult with a qualified legal professional before making any decisions based on the content of this article.