FTX Revisits Past Deals for Scraps as Debtor Tensions Rise

FTXโ€™s new leadership is on the offensive, revisiting old deals to recover funds.

Luxury FTX building in a middle of a futuristic dark city.,
  • FTX has filed a lawsuit against LayerZero. 
  • The bankrupt exchange claims the company initiated questionable practices. 
  • The exchange is eyeing $41 million from the lawsuit. 

FTXโ€™s new leadership is on a relentless witch hunt, trying to secure funds from every means possible as regulators, debtors, and users demand their pound of flesh. After seeking refunds on their extensive list of celebrity endorsements, the bankrupt exchange is now going through old partnerships to retrieve some funds. 

FTX Looks for Bags

FTXโ€™s freshly appointed CEO is out for blood, revisiting old deals, trying to steer the company away from its impending doom. The exchange recently filed a lawsuit against its former associate, LayerZero, accusing them of exploiting FTXโ€™s dramatic downfall using insider information. 

Sponsored

Taking legal action under the Bankruptcy Code to avoid and recover property transfers, the exchange is currently seeking over $41 million from the defendants. As per the official complaint, FTX claimed that LayerZero sought to capitalize on Alameda Researchโ€™s financial position by demanding immediate repayment of a $45 million loan while fully aware of the companyโ€™s liquidity crisis

FTX lawsuit against LayerZero.
FTX Lawsuit against LayerZero.

FTX and LayerZero later agreed to resolve the loan via equity payments, which enabled the latter to buy back its stakes from the exchange. However, despite the agreement, the lawsuit claims that LayerZero initiated questionable business practices, stopping only after facing legal threats from debtors. 

FTX detailed that acting on insider information, LayerZero, its advisors, and senior employees created accounts on the exchange and attempted to withdraw their funds in August 2022 before the company drowned a month later. Given the transfers were made within 90 days of the Chapter 11 filing, the exchange is leveraging the Bankruptcy Code to recover the funds. 

On the Flipside

  • Alameda Research’s former CEO, Caroline Ellison, attempted to sell 100 million STG tokens to LayerZero for $10 million to repay the loan; however, the agreement fell through. 
  • FTX recently filed a lawsuit to claw back the millions of dollars paid in celebrity endorsements and sponsorship. 
  • LayerZero reportedly raised $175 million from investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Alameda Research, and more.

Why This Matters

FTXโ€™s collapse had a very lasting impact on the crypto landscape. Aftershocks from the exchangeโ€™s downfall still affect the industry as regulators use stricter measures against crypto platforms in the US. The new boardโ€™s drive to recoup as much funds could make its debtors and users whole again and ease tensions. 

Find out how FTXโ€™s former CEO is doing in jail:
SBF Unhappy With Jail WiFi, Demands Pretrial Release

Read who FTX is targeting in its lawsuit:
FTX Advisors Seek Refunds on Celebrity Endorsements and Sponsorships

This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

Author
Insha Zia

Insha Zia is a senior journalist at DailyCoin covering crypto developments, especially in the Cardano ecosystem. With a Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering, he delivers high-quality articles with his technical background and expertise in data analysis and programming languages, aiming to educate and inform readers accurately, transparently, and engagingly. Insha believes education can drive mass adoption of the crypto space, and he is committed to giving DailyCoin readers a better understanding of the technology.

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