This page gives the latest information on STFIL, as collected and checked by the Filecoin Foundation. Latest updates are at the top; answers to frequently asked questions are below that.
We have an important and positive update regarding the investigation initiated by the Chinese authorities against STFIL, which is still in progress:
According to the team at Zhong Lun (ZL), one of the law firms assisting depositors from various countries, Hanshou procuratorate and the Hanshou police have, after two rounds of review, officially decided that depositors who are not implicated in the STFIL prosecution are eligible to claim the return of their assets at the current stage.
Furthermore, Hanshou police plans to initiate the asset return process soon.We understand that many depositors have already submitted their registration materials to Hanshou police with the assistance of local lawyers. Others might yet registered yet due to language barriers or other circumstances.
ZL has confirmed with Hanshou police that they will still accept new registrations.
That said, the Hanshou police have emphasized two critical points:
(1) New registration must be completed as soon as possible;
(2) Assets will not be automatically returned without depositors demonstrating their legal ownership over such assets.
We have not, as yet, been informed of a final date for either the return of the assets, or a deadline for claims, though it remains possible that a deadline will be imposed. If you have not yet registered, you risk the tokens being treated as unclaimed assets and kept by the Honshou police.
We’re currently reaching out to the police to see if they can clarify the process for foreign customers; Zhong Lun can provide assistance with the registration process. If you need help with the registration or wish to learn more about their available legal support, please contact Zhong Lun at [email protected].
There is also a legal team at DHH working with the 511 Changsha Tourist Group offering similar services; for those wishing to contact the police directly or work with your own legal guidance, please see our translation of their original registration requirements.
As ever, because of the complexity of the legal and police process in this case, we strongly recommend you find professional legal support when making your claim.
The deadline given by the Hanshou police for STFIL customers to provide details to them passed on July 10th; the two Chinese legal firms working with lessors, Zhong Lun and DHH, worked with their clients to give them this data. While this police deadline, and the date set by both law firms to join their case have now passed, it may still be possible to find representation: please contact Danny O’Brien at [email protected] if you are in this situation, and we will try to help you find support.
The next major stage of the process will be for the STFIL case to work its way through the Chinese legal system. We understand that the police transferred the case materials to the procuratorate for further review on August 10. Now the procurator (roughly equivalent to a prosecutor in other legal systems) will work on reviewing the charges brought by the police.Before the police announced details of their investigation and deadline, the Filecoin Foundation had commissioned Zhong Lun to independently investigate what was happening in Hanshou, as well as conduct legal research and analysis to develop the substantive arguments for the case. As an update, Zhong Lun have now rolled this latter research into their ongoing representation of their STFIL clients.
A summary of the current STFIL situation, especially for those only now hearing about it: