Crypto convention sued by contractor for $ 440,000

As the area’s largest cryptocurrency and blockchain convention prepares for its 2024 show, it is being sued for $ 440,000 by a local contractor that worked on its 2023 show.

Ethdenver, an annual gathering that featured Gov. Jared Polis in 2022, brought 48,000 people from 115 countries to the National Western Complex this past March, organizers say.

“Following the success and positive revenue of this year’s event,” a press release boasts, “the organizers are in talks with locations globally to expand the event footprint.”

But on Monday, Coast to Coast Trade Show Services, a Denver company that said it did $ 400,000 of work at the 2023 convention, sued Ethdenver. When it sent an invoice to the convention’s organizers, “Ethdenver did not pay,” Coast to Coast claims.

As interest accrues, Coast to Coast alleges it is owed $ 438,000 and counting.

Yev Muchnik, an attorney for Ethdenver with Launch Legal in Denver, said in an email to Businessden that “Ethdenver refutes the allegations presented in Coast to Coast’s complaint and intends to issue a public statement addressing this matter by the end of this week.”

Coast to Coast’s lawyer is Steven Mulligan with Coan Payton & Payne in Denver.

He and his client did not answer requests for comment about the lawsuit.

Meanwhile, Ethdenver 2024 is scheduled for Feb. 23 to March 3, again at the National Western Complex. It is funded by sponsors and free to attend, according to its website.

Ethdenver’s website refers to Ethereum — which is a blockchain, or digital ledger — as “one of the greatest movements in the history of civilization.” Ethereum’s cryptocurrency, known as Ether, has fluctuated significantly in value this year, like most cryptocurrencies.

A single Ether was worth $ 1,200 in U. S. dollars when 2023 began, increased to $ 1,700 at the time of the Ethdenver convention, and was worth about $ 2,200 on Monday.