Jump Trading, a prominent crypto firm, has filed a lawsuit against a former software engineer, accusing him of stealing proprietary information to establish a rival blockchain company. The complaint, filed on January 21 in a federal court in Chicago, alleges the ex-employee violated a non-compete agreement and used confidential data for personal gain.
Allegations Against Former Engineer
The lawsuit centers on Liam Heeger, who worked as a lead software engineer at Jump Trading from February 2023 until his resignation on November 11, 2024. During his tenure, Heeger played a key role in Firedancer, a major blockchain project at the firm. Jump Trading claims Heeger had access to sensitive information, including blockchain models, unreleased code, business strategies, and proprietary tools.
The company alleges that Heeger began working on a competing venture, Unto Labs, while still employed at Jump. Heeger announced the formation of Unto Labs in a January 22 post on X (formerly Twitter) under the username Cantelopepeel. The startup reportedly focuses on developing a “next-generation layer-1 blockchain.”
Jump further claims Heeger met with venture capital firms during the Breakpoint conference in Singapore while still employed, securing $3 million in funding at a $50 million valuation within a month of his resignation.
Intellectual Property Concerns
Jump Trading asserts that Heeger is exploiting its intellectual property and confidential data to benefit his new company, causing harm to Jump’s business. The firm emphasized the importance of protecting its trade secrets, stating:
“Jump’s ability to run its business profitably in the blockchain space depends on its ability to keep its intellectual property — including strategies, proprietary data, research, and technology — confidential.”
The lawsuit also alleges that Heeger shared sensitive information with a former Jump colleague after his resignation and told his supervisor that he no longer intended to comply with the non-compete agreement. Heeger reportedly moved to California, where labor laws differ from Illinois, complicating the enforcement of such agreements.
Jump’s Legal Demands
Jump Trading is requesting the court enforce the terms of the two-year non-compete agreement, preventing Heeger from collaborating with anyone on ventures that could breach the contract. The firm is also asking the court to compel Heeger to return any intellectual property or confidential data he may still possess.
At the time of writing, Heeger and Unto Labs have not responded to requests for comment, and information on Heeger’s legal representation was unavailable.
