A startup focused on a little-known but costly regulatory risk for crypto and fintech companies has secured $10 million in Series A funding. Eisen, which specializes in escheatment — the process by which unclaimed assets are turned over to state governments — announced the round, bringing its total funding to $18.5 million, as first reported by Fortune.
What Is Escheatment and Why Does It Matter for Crypto?
Escheatment laws require financial institutions to transfer dormant or unclaimed assets to state treasuries after a certain period of inactivity. While traditionally applied to bank accounts and safe deposit boxes, these laws increasingly apply to cryptocurrency exchanges, securities platforms, and fintech apps. Alan Osgood, CEO of Eisen and a former Coinbase executive, explained that when users lose access to their accounts or simply forget about them, the platforms holding those funds are legally obligated to hand them over to the state. Once transferred, he noted, governments rarely return the assets to the original owners.
The Scale of the Problem
Osgood highlighted a growing crisis: many investor accounts created during the 2021 crypto bull market have since gone dormant. He estimates that approximately $700 million in cryptocurrency will be escheated this year alone. The problem is compounded by the fact that states typically liquidate escheated crypto and stocks immediately upon receipt. This means investors not only lose access to their assets but also miss out on any future price appreciation.
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