A lawyer for Bitcoin Foundation founder Charlie Shrem has denied claims by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss that he "stole" 5000 bitcoins (now $31.7 million) from them in 2012, the New York Times (NYT) reported Nov. 2.

In lawsuit unsealed Thursday, Nov. 1, the Winklevoss twins, with whom Shrem worked on a previous project before serving one year in jail for alleged facilitation of drug purchasing using Bitcoin (BTC), said the issue goes back to 2012.

"Either Shrem has been incredibly lucky and successful since leaving prison, or — more likely — he 'acquired' his six properties, two Maseratis, two powerboats and other holdings with the appreciated value of the 5,000 Bitcoin he stole," the NYT quotes the lawsuit as claiming.

The judge overseeing the complaint — the same involved with Shrem's previous case — has "agreed to freeze" some of his assets, a request which originally surfaced in September, while also considering a further claim he owes $950,000 in restitution from when he pleaded guilty in 2014.