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Dubai's Digital Court Blocks $456 Million, Establishing a Landmark for Stablecoins

Dubai's Digital Court Blocks $456 Million, Establishing a Landmark for Stablecoins

Bitget-RWA2025/11/12 21:20
By:Bitget-RWA

- Dubai's Digital Economy Court froze $456M linked to Justin Sun's TrueUSD rescue, citing improper reserve transfers to Aria Commodities. - Techteryx claims $456M was diverted to illiquid ventures via Hong Kong trustee, violating liquidity requirements for stablecoin redemptions. - Court ruled assets held on constructive trust, warning of asset dissipation risks and setting precedent for Gulf crypto litigation. - Hong Kong courts will determine ownership, with potential to restore reserves or reshape stabl

The Digital Economy Court in Dubai has imposed a freeze on

worth of assets associated with Justin Sun’s intervention in the stablecoin, representing a significant legal milestone in an international conflict regarding reserve oversight.
Dubai's Digital Court Blocks $456 Million, Establishing a Landmark for Stablecoins image 0
On October 17, 2025, the court maintained a global asset freeze after determining there were “substantial matters to be addressed” concerning allegations that the token’s reserves were inappropriately redirected into non-liquid investments managed by Dubai-based Aria Commodities DMCC. This decision highlights increasing attention on how stablecoin reserves are handled and establishes a new legal benchmark for digital asset cases in the Gulf region.

The heart of the dispute is a

in TrueUSD’s backing, which led Sun to compensate token holders for their losses. Techteryx, the entity behind the stablecoin, claims that $456 million in reserves were moved to Aria Commodities via accounts overseen by Hong Kong’s First Digital Trust between 2021 and 2022. These assets were allegedly used to fund commodity trades, mining operations, and other non-liquid investments, violating agreements that required the reserves to stay liquid for redemption purposes. Aria Commodities, under the control of financier Matthew William Brittain, justified the transfers by asserting that their investment approach was never meant for stablecoin reserves, prioritizing “term commitments” over immediate liquidity. The investigation also revealed that Aria Commodities failed to provide proof regarding the transfer of funds or the ownership of the acquired assets.

Justice Michael Black KC, overseeing the proceedings, concluded that Techteryx had a strong argument that the assets were subject to a constructive trust. He pointed out that Aria Commodities did not supply evidence about the movement of funds or the ownership of the purchased assets. The court further noted a “genuine risk” that Brittain might move or reorganize the assets to avoid enforcement, which justified the freeze until Hong Kong courts decide on the rightful ownership. This is the first such injunction from Dubai’s Digital Economy Court, reflecting its expanding influence in resolving intricate cryptocurrency disputes.

This decision carries wider significance for the management of stablecoins. Both regulators and legal professionals are closely monitoring the case as it challenges cross-border responsibility for the misuse of reserves. Although stablecoins are generally promoted as being fully collateralized, the TrueUSD case casts doubt on the transparency of reserve management and the legal options available when assets are mixed or invested in risky ventures. Dubai’s proactive legal stance shows that courts are prepared to act to prevent the hiding of assets, even in regions where crypto regulations are still developing.

The next phase of the legal process will take place in Hong Kong, where courts will determine whether the contested assets belong to Techteryx or to Aria’s trading companies. Should Techteryx succeed, the funds may be restored to TrueUSD’s reserves, reestablishing full collateral for the stablecoin. The result could also shape how stablecoins are structured in the future, encouraging issuers to implement clearer reserve policies to avoid international legal challenges.

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Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

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