NFT platform Metaplex, operating on the Solana blockchain and specializing in NFTs, is facing legal claims over plans to redirect unclaimed SOL tokens to its treasury fund. Lawyers argue that this may violate token holders’ rights and could lead to legal proceedings.
What Happened
Last year, the Metaplex team discovered a method to optimize NFT storage on the blockchain, which reduced onchain storage costs. As a result, users holding NFTs under the Metaplex Token Metadata (TM) standard were given the opportunity to request the return of a small amount of SOL thanks to freed-up space.
The process, called “resize optimization,” was open for voluntary participation until April 25, 2025. However, Metaplex announced that any unclaimed amounts would automatically be transferred to the DAO treasury after the deadline, with no guarantee of return to users.
Lawyers Demand Cancellation of the Plan
The law firm Burwick Law, which specializes in cryptocurrency matters, issued an open letter urging Metaplex to halt the plan and return the funds directly to NFT holders.
According to Burwick’s estimates, over 54,000 SOL are at stake. This means more than $7.3 million could be redirected to the DAO without users’ explicit consent.
Lawyers emphasize that “many minters did not receive clear notifications about the possibility of recovering these funds and also lack control over the DAO treasury where they are being sent.”
Burwick claims that such actions “undermine trust” and violate the foundational principles of the crypto ecosystem.
Potential Legal Consequences
The statement says that Metaplex’s actions may be considered “unjust enrichment” and a violation of consumer protection laws if brought before a court.
Burwick cites similar cases in DeFi, where platforms resolved such conflicts by returning funds to users and keeping only a portion as a network service fee. In the lawyers’ view, a similar approach would be appropriate for Metaplex: return 90% to users and retain 10% in the DAO treasury. This, they say, “would prove that the Solana ecosystem is capable of self-regulation without court intervention.”
Metaplex’s Response
At the time of publication, the platform has not publicly responded to Burwick’s statement. Available information suggests that Metaplex is considering using the unclaimed SOL for grants, DAO voting, and support for ecosystem initiatives.
Burwick has called on the team to reconsider the approach before the deadline and stated that otherwise, it is prepared to seek fund recovery through legal action.
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