TORONTO – Mt. Gox, the Japanese bitcoin exchange that collapsed last month, has updated its website for the first time since losing some 850,000 bitcoins allowing customers to check their account balance.
This is the first major update the site has released since filing for bankruptcy in late February.
In recent weeks the website had been publishing updates on its rehabilitation process, filing for U.S. bankruptcy protection, and warning customers of spam and phishing scams targeting Mt. Gox users.
The major bitcoin exchange filed for bankruptcy protection in late February, when the company’s chief executive announced that 850,000 bitcoins, worth several hundred million dollars, were unaccounted for.
He said a weakness in the exchange’s systems was behind a massive loss of the virtual currency involving 750,000 bitcoins from users and 100,000 of the company’s own bitcoins.
READ MORE: Major bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox goes bust
In a message on its website, Mt. Gox cautioned users that the amount of bitcoins that appear to be in the account would not “constitute a filing of rehabilitation claims.”
“This balance confirmation service is provided on this site only for the convenience of all users,” read the message, displayed in both English and Japanese.
“Please be aware that confirming the balance on this site does not constitute a filing of rehabilitation claims under the civil rehabilitation procedure and note that the balance amounts shown on this site should also not be considered an acknowledgment by MtGox Co., Ltd. of the amount of any rehabilitation claims of users.”
According to a report by Reuters, customer account balances are based on the “last available data” collected from the Mt. Gox servers before it shut down.
Last week a proposed class action was announced that will seek $500 million in compensation for Canadians with deposits in Mt. Gox.
The lawsuit targets Mt. Gox and its two owners, Mark Karpeles and Jed McCaleb, as well as one of the largest banks in Japan, according to the notice of action to Ontario Superior Court.
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