Singapore-based artificial intelligence firm Genius Group says it\u2019s temporarily barred from expanding its Bitcoin treasury after a US court order has banned it from selling shares, raising funds and using investor funds to buy more Bitcoin.<\/p>\n
A New York District court issued the preliminary injunction (PI) and temporary restraining order (TRO) on March 13 in connection with a broader dispute surrounding its merger with Fatbrain AI, the Genius Group said<\/a> in an April 3 statement.<\/p>\n Fatbrain AI and Genius Group completed<\/a> a merger and purchase agreement in March 2024, but by Oct. 30, Genius initiated arbitration procedures to terminate, alleging fraud by Fatbrain AI executives connected to the deal.<\/p>\n Source: <\/em>Roger James Hamilton<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n In February, Fatbrain AI executives Michael Moe and Peter Ritz filed for the TRO and permanent injunction, blocking Genius Group from selling its shares, raising funds and buying more Bitcoin<\/a> pending the arbitration outcome.\u00a0<\/p>\n The injunction has forced Genius Group to close divisions, halt marketing activities and sell 10 Bitcoin (BTC<\/a>) from its stash of 440<\/a>, worth over $23 million at current prices, to continue funding its operations. The firm hasn\u2019t ruled out more sales in the future.<\/p>\n <\/template><\/p>\n \u201cGenius is taking all necessary measures to minimize Bitcoin sales but anticipates that it will need to downsize its Bitcoin Treasury in the coming months in the event the PI remains in place,\u201d the firm said.<\/p>\n Fatbrain AI shareholders also filed two lawsuits against Fatbrain AI executives, including Moe and Ritz, and Genius Group, in April 2024, alleging violation of federal securities laws in connection with the merger, ASX law said<\/a> in an October statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n Two shareholder lawsuits against Fatbrain AI alleged conduct during the merger was fraudulent, which defrauded shareholders of $30 million. Source: <\/em>ASX Law<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Genius Group was subsequently voluntarily dismissed from the suits on Feb. 14.\u00a0<\/p>\n Genius Group says the US court injunction has also forced it to break Singapore law by halting share compensation to employees as part of its employment agreements.<\/p>\n \u201cWe never dreamed that it was possible that a US court could block the company from being able to issue shares, raise funds or buy Bitcoin \u2014 all actions that would normally be decided by a public company’s shareholders or Board rather than a court,\u201d said Genius Group CEO Roger James Hamilton.<\/p>\n Related: <\/strong><\/em>Rumble embraces Trump-era crypto strategy with $17M BTC purchase<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n He said the firm will \u201ccontinue to fly the flag for Bitcoin,\u201d even when legally banned from building out its treasury.<\/p>\n Fatbrain AI didn\u2019t immediately respond to Cointelegraph\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n Artificial intelligence firm Genius Group first announced in November 2024 that it had taken the first steps to build a Bitcoin treasury<\/a> by purchasing 110 Bitcoin for $10 million.<\/p>\n The firm had earlier announced its overall goal of committing 90% or more<\/a> of its current and future reserves to be held in Bitcoin, with an initial target of $120 million, which saw the stock price surge by 66%.\u00a0<\/p>\n Genius Group\u2019s share price is down 9.80% in the last trading session to $0.23, with a further 3.74% drop after the bell to $0.22, Google Finance data shows<\/a>.<\/p>\n Genius Group\u2019s share price went down during the last trading session and after the bell. Source: <\/em>Google Finance\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The stock hit an all-time high of over $96 in June 2022 but has since lost over 99% of its value.\u00a0<\/p>\n Magazine: <\/strong><\/em>XRP win leaves Ripple a \u2018bad actor\u2019 with no crypto legal precedent set<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\nBitcoins Genius Group claims it\u2019s breaking Singapore law by following order\u00a0<\/h2>\n