Posted on

FTX Seeks Customer Consensus: Multi-Billion Dollar Compensation Plan Goes To Vote

FTX, the failed crypto exchange, will seek customer approval for its Chapter 11 plan to compensate victims and resolve government penalties stemming from the platform’s fraudulent collapse in November 2022. 

The decision by Judge John Dorsey marks a significant step forward in the two-year-long bankruptcy proceedings, as voting by creditors plays a pivotal role in restructuring efforts. While FTX’s plan has gained support from key customer committees, a vocal group remains opposed and demands substantial revisions.

FTX Offers Customers 119% Asset Recovery

According to Bloomberg, under the proposed plan, most FTX customers are expected to recover 119% of their assets as of the day the company filed for Chapter 11 in November 2022. Other creditors may receive up to 143% of their owed amounts. 

FTX’s legal team maintains that bankruptcy law necessitates valuing claims based on their value at the time of filing, despite subsequent increases in cryptocurrency prices.

FTX’s decision to solicit votes from its customer base stems from the desire to obtain feedback from previously uninvolved parties regarding the repayment plan. 

Additionally, the company is still negotiating with federal authorities and exploring options to utilize government claims against FTX to compensate affected customers. 

Notably, FTX has already settled a $24 billion tax claim from the US Internal Revenue Service. Under the settlement terms, the firm will pay the IRS $200 million within 60 days of implementing the proposed restructuring plan. 

The settlement allows FTX to pay a fraction of the amount claimed by the IRS, clearing the way for the exchange to distribute significant customer recoveries.

The IRS will also receive a lower priority claim of $685 million, which will be paid on a subordinated basis to customers and other creditors, depending on the availability of funds. These details were outlined in a filing made by FTX in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

SBF’s Fraud Conviction Shadows Bankruptcy Proceedings 

FTX is currently monetizing its assets, as the platform reportedly lacked segregated digital assets directly connected to claims against the exchange. Instead, FTX possesses a collection of assets acquired using stolen customer funds, representing a complex challenge in the compensation process.

Customers have until August 16 to vote on the Chapter 11 plan. Judge Dorsey will then review and potentially approve the plan on October 7, considering the outcome of the customer vote.

FTX filed for bankruptcy after its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), shut down the crypto trading platform in 2022 and relinquished control to bankruptcy professionals. Bankman-Fried subsequently faced a 25-year fraud conviction, which he recently announced he would appeal.

FTX

As of this writing, the exchange’s native token FTT is trading at $1.43, up 2% in the past 24 hours and just 27% year-to-date. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Posted on

FTX Co-Founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s Civil Liability Released In Settlement With Investors

According to a recent Bloomberg report, a group of investors and customers of cryptocurrency exchange FTX have agreed to drop their claims against co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried. 

In exchange, Bankman-Fried has agreed to cooperate with the plaintiffs in the ongoing lawsuits against other defendants related to the collapse of FTX.

Sam  Bankman-Fried And Insiders Settle

Per the report, if approved by a judge, this agreement would release Bankman-Fried from civil liability just weeks after being sentenced to 25 years in prison for fraud stemming from allegations of stealing billions of dollars from FTX. 

The settlement, filed in federal court in Miami, stipulates that the plaintiffs in the multi-district litigation will resolve all current and future claims against Bankman-Fried.

Other FTX insiders, including former executives Gary Wang, Caroline Ellison, and Nishad Singh, who testified against Bankman-Fried, were also sued by investors. However, they have agreed to settle and have already started providing information to support the plaintiff’s case, as stated in the court filing. 

Notably, this leaves the high-profile celebrities, sports stars, and social media influencers who promoted FTX to investors and customers as the remaining defendants.

As part of the settlement agreement, Bankman-Fried has committed to assisting the plaintiffs’ lawyers in pursuing the remaining FTX endorsers. Additionally, he will provide all nonprivileged documents related to his assets and his investment in artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic. 

Bankman-Fried will also submit an affidavit certifying his net worth as negative and share documents about other defendants involved in the expansive civil litigation.

The list of defendants in the consolidated FTX lawsuits is extensive, with financiers and celebrity endorsers such as Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, and Gisele Bundchen accused of promoting “unregistered securities” and luring investors into a Ponzi scheme. 

Bankman-Fried’s agreement includes providing any relevant information about venture capital firms that invested in FTX and accountants and lawyers who worked with the exchange.

If successful, the plaintiffs could potentially win substantial amounts in damages. According to court filings, the settlements with the promoters involved in the agreement are estimated to be valued at around $1.3 million.

FTX Scandal Update

Bankman-Fried’s spokesperson, Mark Botnick, stated that his client is determined to make amends. Botnick emphasized that since the collapse of FTX, Bankman-Fried has focused solely on returning the estate’s assets to customers and ensuring they are made whole at current prices. 

Botnick expressed Bankman-Fried’s commitment to continue working with Adam Moskowitz and his team, representing the plaintiffs, to achieve this goal.

In their request for the judge’s approval of the settlement, the plaintiffs’ attorneys acknowledged the uncertainty and litigation risks associated with pursuing Bankman-Fried. They concluded that Bankman-Fried’s cooperation would be “valuable” in the remaining legal proceedings.

Bankman-Fried, who was found guilty at trial late last year and sentenced in late March, is currently in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, before being transferred to the prison where he will serve his term. He intends to appeal both his sentence and conviction.

FTX

Featured image from Reuters, chart from TradingView.com

Posted on

Disgraced FTX Co-Founder Placed On Suicide Watch In Prison, Reveals Former Inmate

Sam Bankman-Fried, the co-founder of the FTX crypto exchange, who was recently found guilty of multiple counts of criminal fraud, reportedly faced a harrowing experience while incarcerated. 

According to a former mobster turned federal informant, Gene Borrello, who shared a prison cell with Bankman-Fried, the disgraced crypto executive was placed on suicide watch and endured challenging conditions during his time at Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) while awaiting sentencing next year.

FTX Co-Founder Subjected To Extortion

The details emerged during an interview with crypto blogger Tiffany Fong, where Borrello disclosed the troubling circumstances surrounding Bankman-Fried’s imprisonment. 

The former detainee recounted how Bankman-Fried was subjected to suicide watch, extortion attempts, and even periods of self-neglect, including refusing to eat or shower for several days.

In an attempt to protect Bankman-Fried from potential harassment or extortion, authorities segregated him from gang members within the prison facility. However, despite these precautions, Borrello’s intervention reportedly foiled an extortion plot against the crypto mogul.

Borrello further revealed that he prevented the extortionists from coercing Bankman-Fried into sharing a bunk with them, placing the FTX co-founder in a solitary wing. Additionally, Bankman-Fried’s parents reportedly requested his transfer to the solitary unit to ensure his safety.

Drastic Change In Prison?

Describing the physical and emotional toll on Bankman-Fried, Borrello highlighted the crypto executive’s frail appearance, likening it to that of an elderly man. Borrello stated on the matter:

He has the body of an 80-year-old man. He has, like, no shape to him. When he talks to you, he puts his head down; he’s very timid, he talks very nervously. 

Borrello also noted Bankman-Fried’s timid demeanor, with the co-founder displaying signs of nervousness during interactions. 

In one conversation, Borrello confronted Bankman-Fried, stating that he had never been in a physical altercation before and questioned his association with gang members.

As reported by our sister site, Bitcoinist, Bankman-Fried received unique treatment in prison, where he allegedly received special privileges for sharing cryptocurrency-related information with prison guards and fellow inmates.

However, Borrello’s account offers a contrasting perspective, emphasizing the challenges and vulnerabilities the disgraced executive faced behind bars.

As Bankman-Fried’s sentencing approaches, his time in prison, including allegations of bullying and the ultimate impact on his legal proceedings, continues to draw attention. 

The revelations from Borrello’s interview provide a rare glimpse into the world of the disgraced FTX co-founder, and it remains to be seen what other revelations may be made in prison for Bankman-Fried as his sentencing trial looms in 2024.

FTX

At present, the native token of FTX, FTT, is trading at $4.0997, indicating a decrease of 2.8% in the past 24 hours. However, it is noteworthy that the token has experienced a substantial surge of 216% year to date.

Featured image from Shutterstock, a chart from TradingView.com 

Posted on

NFL Star Tom Brady Determined To Stake Big In The Crypto Field

The crypto bug is seemingly proving to be having a big bite on the sports industry as Tom Brady joins other sports celebrities pursuing a dream in the blockchain sector.

The quarterback of the Super Bowl champs – Tampa Bay – had for weeks indicated his enthusiasm, through several tweets about crypto before declaring his intention now to be a “pioneer” in the industry.

The Super Bowl GOAT had for a few days back told the media that he’s a “big believer” in cryptocurrencies. Also, he further disclosed he had acquired some digital coins, which he declined to reveal when asked which ones specifically.

Sports Personalities Delving Into Cryptocurrency Sector

The announcement has made this sports personality the latest entrant into the crypto-world.

This development is coming a few days after a prominent and controversial former batsman from England – Kevin Petersen – affirmed that he’s “getting closer & closer to joining the #bitcoin world.”

Related Reading | Top English Cricketer Kevin Pietersen Acknowledges Bitcoin (BTC)

Similarly, one Shoaib Akhtar, an ex-Pakistani cricketer, had before then launched the world’s first cricket-centric NFT marketplace about two weeks ago.

The FTX Company 

Following his latest crypto activities, Tom Brady has been appointed a brand ambassador for FTX. The FTX is a US-regulated cryptocurrency exchange built from the ground up.

It is a company bent on growing the digital currency ecosystem, offering the US and international traders a platform that inspires their loyalty, and becoming the market-leading US-regulated cryptocurrency exchange.

Tom Brady Met Sam Bankman-Fried

Today, during a Q&A on Twitter that the company mainly organized to promote his new role as their brand ambassador, the experienced quarterback talked with pomp over his latest partnership with the crypto exchange. But unfortunately, he also dismissively belittled the threat of the recent market doldrums.

Related Reading | Blockchain Caucus Co-Chair: Government Needs The Ability To Reverse Transactions

On being asked by his host Sam Bankman-Fried, about what exactly his recent exodus of tweets on Twitter were driving at, “I want to be a pioneer in this field,” Brady revealed.

Host Sam Bankman-Fried is the founder and CEO of the US-based digital currency company.

What Attracted Brady?

In the half-hour-long dialogue with the CEO, Brady assessed his current adventure into the blockchain industry. He equally revealed why he had chosen the FTX over others.

He revealed a “charitable mission” adoption, given the rapidly growing crypto exchange.

Indeed, a fact check shows the US-regulated exchange has obliged to donate 1% of all “net fees” to charity and has thus far put up $10 million from the pledge.

“I got a call from a guy I work with who has a lot of great knowledge about this space. He said, “I think this would be something you would be interested in.” Brady, talking about how he was intrigued to start digging into the company.

The results were his investment into the company and the ensuing ambassadorial reward, he said.

Brady, however, never ceased to give more significant credit on FTX’s charitable project, which he said endeared the company to him the most.

Tom Brady Excited To Partner With’ Charitable’ FTX

“I’m excited about the endless possibilities that we have to create things together,” Brady said, as he revealed how exciting it is for him to partner with FTX in giving back to the communities, the planet, and spreading the crypto knowledge.

The 43-year-old super bowl’s “greatest of all time” revealed his new role at FTX is inclusive of his wife.

He explained she would be working primarily on the charitable part of the partnership. She will help determine which charities to fund with the money the FTX continues to raise, Brady revealed to Sam Bankman-Fried.

Super Bowl Star Tom Brady Determined to Stake Big in The Crypto Field
The Bitcoin chart shows bears are forcing BTC to remain sluggish  | Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com

Undoubtedly, the cryptocurrency sector is appealing and it’s gaining traction at an impressive pace. As the most renowned sports personalities show interest in Bitcoin and other digital assets, the prices are expected to skyrocket in the near term.

Featured image from Tom Brady's Twitter, Charts from TradingView.com