A controversial lawsuit has been filed: the holders of 32,000 former BlackBerry patents are suing major Bitcoin miners, claiming they are infringing on cryptographic technology that underpins the blockchain itself. Yes — we’re talking about Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC).
Who’s suing and why?
- Malikie Innovations acquired BlackBerry’s patents and is now suing Marathon Digital and Core Scientific
- The claim centers on the use of ECC, which Malikie alleges is protected by their patents
- They’re demanding compensation for 6 years of lost profits — potentially tens of millions of dollars
What’s the risk to the market?
- If Malikie wins, it could set a precedent, putting other miners at legal risk
- Possible fallout includes bankruptcies, rising legal threats for the industry, and major scaling challenges
One lawyer warned: “This could undermine the security of the entire Bitcoin network”
Should users be worried?
Not yet. Going after individuals is costly and ineffective — they’re “legally unprofitable targets.”
- But if the patents hold up, this could drag on and affect Bitcoin infrastructure.
Analysts are skeptical: most of the patents have likely expired or don’t cover the core concepts of ECC. But the final word will come from the court.
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