Decentralised Finance protocol, PoolTogether, has found itself amidst a legal hurricane. The firm is facing potential litigation on the grounds of allegedly operating an illegal lottery, a claim originating in Brooklyn, New York. The operation is said to involve PoolTogether’s associates, Dharm Labs, Inc and Ozone Networks, who provided funding for the embattled firm’s projects.
PoolTogether on the Defence
According to Joseph Kent, a software engineer and former team member of Senator Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 election campaign and reported on Bloomberg, PoolTogether orchestrated an illegal lottery.
Kent accuses the firm of selling lottery tickets, letting clients stake their decentralised assets in their wallets with the promise of one winner taking it all, while remaining proceeds are distributed among in-house and external investors.
“I suspected the lottery and would like to be compensated double the amount,” Kent voiced, who had initially invested $12 and now is seeking reparation of $24, in addition to litigation costs.
This contention has triggered considerable disquiet within the DeFi community, with concerns that it could herald stricter regulatory scrutiny for the burgeoning sector. There’s a palpable anxiety that this could damage the reputation and user trust in DeFi projects.
The Bigger Picture
As the dispute unfolds, PoolTogether staunchly maintains its activities are ‘purely protocol’, facilitating clients to deposit, swap, and transact their digital coins predominantly via Ethereum. Richard Liriano, host of ‘The Richard Concludes’, optimistically mused, “the winner will not only be for PoolTogether but also all DeFi protocols.“
The New York court has asserted its jurisdiction over the defendants, most notably Leighton Cusack, Nascent, and Ozone, all being based in New York.
The ensuing lawsuit has stimulated a wave of uncertainty within the decentralised user community, with many questioning their faith in the DeFi system, and wondering whether to redirect their investments. Much depends on the outcome of this case; a victory for PoolTogether could restore faith in DeFi.
PoolTogether’s Uncertain Future
However, as the legal proceedings advance, Liriano warns that PoolTogether’s future could be in jeopardy. Their current location in New York and the solidity of the case might drain a significant amount of resources. He hypothesised, “If PoolTogether defend themselves till the end, the case might yield impeccable effects to DeFi.“
As the dust settles on this unfolding drama, the broader implications for web3 lotteries as a whole hang in the balance. The future remains uncertain, with PoolTogether at the heart of a lawsuit that could reshape the landscape of decentralised finance.
