Found an interesting article today coming from Spain, it says that someone contracted a debt with another private party, it was a simple two-guy debt setting without a legal agreement other than Whatsapp messages. "I need X amount of money, I will pay you back". The creditor accepted and so sent 0.58 BTC to this guy which eventually refused to pay back. What's interesting is that for the first time ever the judge said the debt plus interest must be paid back in Bitcoin, not the fiat currency (EUR in Spain). Due counterparty risk, he will have to pay more since by the time the agreement happened the price of Bitcoin was cheaper, specifically, 14.000€ at current rate, 5.900€ back then. It's one of those things, you may take advantage of the fluctuating price or you may have to pay more. At the end of the day this is positive for BTC since it is being considered as a viable way to settle debts between private parties by authorities, which always translates into better regulation and in general being looked like less of a dodgy guy when you liquidate it into a bank deposit.
Source:
https://es.investing.com/news/cryptocurrency-news/juzgado-en-espana-ordena-devolucion-de-prestamo-en-bitcoin-no-en-euros-2401286not really a precedent
its much the same as
"this guy stole my lawnmower"
judge: "give him back his lawnmower"
not all compensations/debts/thefts/frauds or orders to honour loans/agreements/returns need to be honoured in fiat
but still. atleast it shows that spanish judges accept bitcoin as a item of value that needs to be returned as is in the same condition as it was taken(plus extra for inconvenience caused). rather than some judges just dismissing cases thinking its two kids fighting over monopoly money
Yeah but this is a monetary settlement with an agreed interest rate, a lawnmower being stolen would return you the lawnmower plus a compensation for any damages caused and a fee for the theft. Here Bitcoin was respected as a valid way of money with his own market value and indeed not forced to liquidate the debt in fiat as if it was monopoley money in the eyes of the state, so overall is a positive. It is mentioned that at least in Spain this hasn't happened before.