Bitcoin and Bankruptcy

There is probably already a post out there regarding bitcoin and bankruptcy because it seems all the rage these days. However, I have not seen one, so I will claim the first. Perhaps though, it is because there is really only one thing to say about bitcoin and bankruptcy. As opposed to the complexity of every other aspect of bitcoin, this is really quite simple: bitcoin is an asset in a bankruptcy so it must be disclosed.

I hope that is sufficient explanation. Now that I think of it, though, there could be one rather challenging aspect of bitcoin and bankrupty: what is its value? There have been cases where a chapter 7 has been held open so long that the trustee went after the increase in value of exempted real property as part of the estate – with how volatile bitcoin is, one would need to calculate its value right when the petition is filed (be sure to preserve documentation of that value at that moment). Then, one would just hope the trustee does not seek after the gains towards the end of the bankruptcy.

However, I cannot imagine anyone who owns bitcoin is going to be filing bankruptcy anytime soon, so we have time to figure this one out.