Reviewed by James Carter, Senior Crypto Analyst | Updated March 2026 | Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn commissions from links on this page.
BlockFi Exchange felülvizsgálata: Mit kell tudni a meglévő felhasználóknak most
Welcome to this in-depth BlockFi Exchange Review built for cryptocurrency investors researching crypto exchanges, bitcoin exchanges, and the current state of BlockFi following its November 2022 bankruptcy filing. This comprehensive guide covers BlockFi’s seven-year operational history from 2017 to 2022, the BlockFi Interest Account that once offered yields up to 9.5% APY on stablecoin deposits, crypto-backed loans with loan-to-value ratios ranging from 20% to 50%, the BlockFi rewards credit card offering 1.5% back in bitcoin, how BlockFi fees and withdrawal fees structured costs for users, whether BlockFi functions as an exchange, how its security and Gemini-based custody operated, and how existing users can navigate account access and withdrawals through the court-supervised distribution process. You will also find answers to frequently asked questions about whether BlockFi is paying out distributions and how to recover funds after the Chapter 11 proceedings. If you are comparing crypto trading platforms and interest accounts, you will find practical details on key features, counterparty risks, and vetted alternatives to help match your financial needs and risk tolerance.
BlockFi Compared to Active Crypto Exchanges
| Exchange | Kereskedelmi díjak | Min Deposit | Regulation | Interest/Yield | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BlockFi (Wind-Down) | Spread-based (historically 1-2%) | $0 | US (SEC $100M Settlement Feb 2022) | Up to 9.5% APY (discontinued) | N/A – Not Active |
| Coinbase | 0.00% – 0.60% | $1 | US (Multiple Licenses, NASDAQ Listed) | Up to 5.1% APY on USDC | 4.5/5 |
| Gemini | 0.00% – 0.40% | $0 | US (NYDFS Trust Company) | Limited staking available | 4.3/5 |
| Kraken | 0.00% – 0.26% | $1 | US (FinCEN, State Licenses) | Up to 24% APY on select assets | 4.4/5 |
| Crypto.com | 0.00% – 0.075% | $1 | Multiple Jurisdictions | Up to 14.5% APY on stablecoins | 4.2/5 |
BlockFi’s Core Features and Product Offerings Overview
BlockFi distinguished itself in the crypto lending market through a suite of integrated financial products that combined traditional finance concepts with digital asset accessibility:
Crypto trading on a streamlined order interface designed for cryptocurrency investors seeking simplicity over complex trading terminals with dozens of order types
BlockFi Interest Account, a now-discontinued program that paid compound interest on crypto holdings and stablecoins with tiered variable interest rates reaching up to 9.5% APY on stablecoins and 6% APY on bitcoin for smaller balance tiers prior to regulatory intervention
Crypto-backed loans enabling users to borrow USD against crypto collateral at loan-to-value ratios between 20% and 50%, with interest rates historically ranging from 4.5% to 9.75% APR depending on collateralization level and loan term
BlockFi rewards credit card, a Visa Signature crypto credit card earning 1.5% back in bitcoin on all purchases after meeting the initial spending threshold, marketed with no annual fee for cardholders
Recurring trades and automatic trades supporting dollar-cost averaging strategies on daily, weekly, or monthly schedules with minimum purchase amounts starting at $10
Institutional investor services including over-the-counter trading desks handling transactions exceeding $100,000 and customized financing solutions secured by digital assets
Mobile and web access through the BlockFi mobile app available on iOS and Android platforms and the BlockFi website featuring mandatory two-factor authentication via authenticator apps or SMS
Critical Update for Crypto Investors Reviewing BlockFi in 2025-2026: The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on November 28, 2022, in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey (Case No. 22-19361). BlockFi disclosed approximately $257 million in cash on hand and estimated that it owed between $1 billion and $10 billion to more than 100,000 creditors. Its crypto loans, interest accounts, and trading account offerings for new investors are no longer active. Existing users should consult official court filings and the restructuring portal at blockfi.com for claims, distributions, and any available withdrawal options during the court-supervised wind-down process.
Background: What Happened to BlockFi and Where Things Stand Today
BlockFi launched in August 2017 and operated from headquarters in Jersey City, New Jersey, with additional offices in New York, Singapore, Poland, and Argentina at its peak. Founders Zac Prince (CEO) and Flori Marquez positioned the company as a bridge between traditional finance infrastructure and crypto accessibility by offering consumer-friendly crypto trading, the BlockFi Interest Account that pays interest on digital assets, and crypto loans collateralized by bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies.
The company raised approximately $450 million across multiple funding rounds, reaching a peak valuation of $3 billion in March 2021 during Series D funding. Notable investors included Winklevoss Capital, Morgan Creek Capital, Bain Capital Ventures, Tiger Global, and Coinbase Ventures. BlockFi used third-party custody arrangements with Gemini Trust Company for a substantial portion of customer assets, publicizing the Gemini Dollar stablecoin as one of its supported interest-bearing assets.
The regulatory environment shifted significantly in February 2022 when BlockFi agreed to pay $100 million to settle charges with the SEC and 32 state regulators over allegations that its interest accounts constituted unregistered securities offerings. This settlement, split evenly between the SEC and state agencies, marked the first major enforcement action treating crypto yield products as securities under the Securities Act of 1933.
During the market collapse of 2022, BlockFi faced cascading challenges. The company had significant counterparty exposure to Three Arrows Capital (3AC), which defaulted on approximately $80 million in loans to BlockFi in June 2022. More critically, BlockFi had entered into a $400 million revolving credit facility with FTX in July 2022, providing FTX with an option to acquire BlockFi for up to $240 million. When FTX collapsed spectacularly in November 2022, BlockFi had an estimated $355 million in digital assets frozen on the FTX platform plus the outstanding credit facility obligations.
On November 10, 2022, BlockFi paused client withdrawals, citing lack of clarity regarding FTX and its affiliates. Eighteen days later, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Court filings revealed that BlockFi’s largest creditor was Ankura Trust Company (representing bondholders) with claims of approximately $729 million, and FTX appeared as both a major debtor (owing BlockFi money) and creditor.
As of the latest court proceedings in early 2026, BlockFi has pursued distributions to creditors and BlockFi users through the bankruptcy process. The restructuring plan has progressed through several phases, with initial distributions to certain creditor classes beginning in 2024. The BlockFi website now functions primarily as a legal information hub with court updates, claim submission instructions, and distribution schedules. While some users have reported partial recoveries ranging from 30% to 60% of certain claim values over a period of months, the complete process remains ongoing and subject to final court approvals, litigation outcomes with FTX and other counterparties, and recovery rates from the FTX bankruptcy estate.
For those researching crypto exchanges, treat BlockFi as a wind-down entity under court supervision rather than an operational platform for new trading or interest accounts. The company’s trajectory offers important lessons about counterparty risk, regulatory compliance, and the structural vulnerabilities of crypto lending business models.
Regulatory History and Compliance Framework Analysis
Understanding BlockFi’s regulatory history provides essential context for both existing users navigating the wind-down and investors evaluating platform risk factors more broadly in the crypto lending sector.
BlockFi operated primarily as a money services business registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) under federal Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering requirements. The company maintained state-level money transmitter licenses in approximately 47 US jurisdictions where such licensing was required, though the fragmented nature of state crypto regulation meant coverage and requirements varied significantly by location.
The most consequential regulatory action came on February 14, 2022, when BlockFi reached a historic settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities regulators. The SEC determined that BlockFi’s interest account product (BIA) constituted an unregistered securities offering under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as well as an unregistered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. BlockFi neither admitted nor denied the findings but agreed to pay $100 million in combined penalties: $50 million to the SEC as a civil penalty and $50 million distributed among 32 participating state regulatory agencies including Texas, New Jersey, Alabama, and Vermont.
The settlement established several precedent-setting requirements. BlockFi agreed to cease offering unregistered lending products to US investors and committed to bringing any future yield products into compliance through proper SEC registration under Form S-1. The company also agreed to file a registration statement for a new compliant yield product called BlockFi Yield, though this never launched due to subsequent bankruptcy. This enforcement action served as the template for subsequent actions against other crypto lenders including Celsius and Voyager.
BlockFi also faced scrutiny from the New York Attorney General’s office and the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) regarding its operations within New York State. For a period, BlockFi operated without the specialized BitLicense required by NYDFS for cryptocurrency businesses serving New York residents, leading to restrictions on certain product offerings to New York customers.
From a consumer protection standpoint, BlockFi’s terms of service contained provisions that granted the company broad discretion over customer assets. Section 4 of the BIA agreement specified that customers transferred title to their deposited crypto assets to BlockFi, which could lend, sell, pledge, or rehypothecate those assets at its discretion. This meant customer deposits were unsecured obligations of BlockFi rather than segregated customer property, a distinction that proved critical in bankruptcy proceedings.
For existing users, the regulatory framework directly affects the wind-down process. The Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings are supervised by Judge Michael B. Kaplan in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. Creditor claims, asset distributions, and recovery processes follow Title 11 of the US Code (federal bankruptcy law), with the court overseeing fair treatment of different creditor classes according to statutory priority. Users should understand that customer assets held in BlockFi Interest Accounts are treated as unsecured creditor claims rather than segregated property, which affects recovery priority and estimated distribution amounts throughout the ongoing wind-down.
Frequently Asked Questions About BlockFi
Is BlockFi still operating in 2026?
No. BlockFi is not operating as an active crypto exchange or lending platform. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 28, 2022, and has been in a court-supervised wind-down process since then. The BlockFi website currently serves as an information hub for existing creditors and users to track claims, distributions, and legal proceedings. No new accounts, trades, loans, or interest account enrollments are possible.
How can existing BlockFi users recover their funds?
Existing BlockFi users must participate in the court-supervised claims and distribution process through the official restructuring portal at blockfi.com. Users should have submitted claims through the bankruptcy court claims process and can monitor their creditor status and distribution schedules through the portal. Recovery rates vary by creditor class, with some users reporting partial recoveries in the range of 30% to 60% of claim values as of early 2026. The process remains ongoing and outcomes depend on litigation results with FTX and other counterparties.
What caused BlockFi to go bankrupt?
BlockFi’s bankruptcy resulted from a combination of factors. The company suffered approximately $80 million in losses from defaulted loans to Three Arrows Capital in mid-2022. More critically, BlockFi had around $355 million in digital assets frozen on the FTX platform when FTX collapsed in November 2022, plus exposure through a $400 million revolving credit facility with FTX. These overlapping counterparty failures, combined with the broader crypto market downturn and earlier regulatory penalties totaling $100 million, made the company’s position untenable and led to the November 2022 bankruptcy filing.
What are the best alternatives to BlockFi for crypto interest and trading in 2026?
Investors looking for regulated alternatives to BlockFi’s former product suite should consider platforms that maintain stronger regulatory compliance and asset segregation practices. Coinbase offers USDC yield products and is NASDAQ-listed with strong US regulatory standing. Gemini operates as an NYDFS-chartered trust company with regulated custody. Kraken offers staking and yield products with competitive rates and established FinCEN registration. When evaluating any platform offering crypto yield products, prioritize asset segregation policies, regulatory licensing, and the absence of rehypothecation of customer deposits.
Did the BlockFi Interest Account count as a security under US law?
Yes, according to the SEC’s determination in the February 2022 enforcement action. The SEC concluded that BlockFi’s Interest Account product constituted an unregistered security offering under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933 and that BlockFi operated as an unregistered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. BlockFi paid $100 million to settle these charges without admitting or denying the findings. This ruling set a significant precedent for how US regulators classify crypto lending and yield products and has since influenced the regulatory treatment of similar products across the industry.
Looking for the best crypto exchanges in the US? See our full guide for American traders.

