Citing security concerns with the possibility of endangering personal information and the privacy of users in relation to the planned release of the list of bitcoin addresses controlled by now-defunct Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox, the trustee has suspended the release.

Nobuaki Kobayashi, the Tokyo District Court assigned Trustee, who revealed “significant progress” had been made into the Mt. Gox investigation and claims from creditors during the last creditors meeting, was also arranging for the release of bitcoin address controlled by the debtor (Mt. Gox) at the time. The aim of the public release was to facilitate the investigation in understanding the fundamental causes leading to the bankruptcy of Japanese digital currency exchange Mt. Gox.

However, Kobayashi has now suspended the release of the list, after analyzing the risks involved. He believes the negative effect and the risks associated with releasing the list far outweigh the benefits of doing so, resulting in the decision taken against a public release.

An announcement [PDF] released today read:

[S]ince we have newly identified material risks of endangering personal information or the privacy of users in releasing the list, we have been analyzing the actual risk thereof and have heard opinions among the bitcoin community on this regard, with the support of Payward Group, a supporting company of the debtor.

As a result, the trustee has come to believe that the potential negative effect resulting from the release of the address would be much more detrimental compared to the degree of benefits that can be gained thereby, and, therefore, has concluded that we suspend the release.

Investigation Concluded?

Furthermore, today’s announcement also mentions an upcoming –although unspecific—date for a statement regarding the result of the investigation, implying that the investigation is now complete.

Today’s announcement stated:

Meanwhile, we plan to announce the result of the investigation conducted with the support of Payward Group ( bitcoin exchange Kraken’s parent company) in a manner, at the timing, and with content, that the trustee believes to be appropriate.

According to February’s announcement [complete list of documents available in PDF here], the Trustee is currently in possession of 202,163.411 bitcoins, now worth over $92 million USD.

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