Exodus Movement, a publicly traded cryptocurrency company, has initiated legal proceedings against W3C, the parent company of Baanx and Monovate, and its CEO, Garth Howat, in an effort to finalize the $175 million acquisition agreed upon last November. The lawsuit, filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery, seeks to compel Howat to adhere to the obligations outlined in the November 24, 2025 Stock Purchase Agreement.

Upon signing the deal, Howat and W3C received $80 million in loans from Exodus, with Howat personally receiving $10 million, which he later claimed did not need to be repaid, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that Howat and W3C are attempting to evade their commitment to the acquisition, engaging in improper conduct such as falsifying documents and attempting to manipulate the leadership of their subsidiaries.

Exodus CEO and Co-founder JP Richardson expressed confidence in the binding agreement, expecting it to be honored and anticipating a swift resolution.