Crypto and AI-Related Class Action Lawsuits Set to Surge in 2025, Report Finds
The number of investor-led class-action lawsuits in the United States involving cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence (AI) is on track to nearly double in 2025, signaling growing legal scrutiny in these rapidly evolving sectors. According to a recent report released by Cornerstone on Wednesday, both crypto and AI-related complaints have emerged as the most prominent trends in securities litigation during the first half of the year.
Rising Filings Despite Flat Overall Securities Litigation
The report highlights that so far in 2025, there have been 12 AI-related and six crypto-related class-action filings. These figures are already approaching the total number of similar complaints registered over the entire year of 2024. This rise in sector-specific lawsuits comes despite the overall number of securities class actions filed by shareholders alleging losses remaining steadyâ114 new lawsuits were filed in the first half of 2025 versus 115 in the latter half of 2024. Continued Legal Actions Against Crypto Firms Despite Regulatory Changes
Investor-initiated civil actions against cryptocurrency companies continue to gain momentum, even as major U.S. regulatory bodies such as the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have dialed back their enforcement efforts under the current administration of President Donald Trump. The data suggests that investors remain vigilant in seeking accountability through the courts.
Breakdown of Crypto-Related Lawsuits
Cornerstone’s analysis showed that 2024 witnessed seven crypto-related class-action lawsuits. The six filed so far in 2025 mark significant growth and are likely to surpass last yearâs total. Half of this yearâs crypto-related cases were filed against crypto issuers, while one complaint targeted a crypto miner. Additionally, two lawsuits were lodged against so-called âcryptocurrency-adjacentâ companiesâfirms engaged in activities such as selling mining equipment or attempting to enter the crypto market via partnerships.
Notably, half of the complaints were brought forward by the law firm Burwick Law, including high-profile lawsuits against the platform Pump.fun and individuals behind the controversial LIBRA memecoin. Max Burwick, founder of Burwick Law, emphasized to Cointelegraph that civil litigation plays a crucial role in enforcing accountability when regulatory mechanisms lag behind the fast-moving crypto industry. Other law firms active in this space include Pomerantz LLP and Glancy Prongay & Murray.
AI-Related Lawsuits Driven by âAI-Washingâ Concerns
In addition to cryptocurrency, AI-related securities litigation is gaining traction. The dozen AI-related filings in early 2025 are already nearing the 15 cases recorded in all of 2024. Stanford law professor and former SEC Commissioner Joseph Grundfest attributes this increase primarily to the phenomenon known as âAI washing,â where companies exaggerate or misrepresent their AI capabilities to investors and the public. Such deceptive claims frequently result in legal challenges once the truth unfolds and investors incur losses.
Grundfest explained, âChatGPT sums up the AI litigation surge as âprimarily driven by the phenomenon known as AI washing â where companies exaggerate, misrepresent, or falsify the extent or significance of their AI capabilities.ââ He underscored that this explanation captures the current essence of AI-related securities lawsuits.
Outlook
The Cornerstone reportâs findings underscore that as emerging technologies like cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence reshape markets, investors are increasingly resorting to class-action lawsuits to address perceived misconduct. With cases related to these sectors growing rapidly in 2025, industry participants and regulators alike are likely to face heightened scrutiny in the coming months.
© 2025 TradingView, Inc. and Cointelegraph. All rights reserved. Data referenced in this report provided by FactSet and ICE Data Services.