FTX Debtors Seek Seized Assets from SBF: Customers’ Counterclaim
The aftermath of the FTX collapse is leading to a new legal battle over assets seized from Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the former CEO currently serving a 24-year prison sentence. The assets in question include airplanes, funds in various banks, shares of Robinhood stock once owned by SBF, and even political contributions linked to FTX executives.
FTX debtors, along with the company’s Bahamian arm, FTX Digital Markets, have filed a petition in the Southern District Court of New York to gain control of the assets seized from SBF. They argue that they have a “superior right” to these assets and that using them to repay creditors would be more beneficial than the current bankruptcy plan.
However, a group of FTX customers, represented by prominent crypto lawyers Adam Moskowitz and David Boies, have also filed a petition seeking the return of the seized assets directly to the customers. They claim that Bankman-Fried stole their digital assets and that the funds rightfully belong to them.
The legal battle over the seized assets is expected to be complex, with arguments from both sides on the legitimacy of their claims and the best course of action to recover lost funds. The court has yet to rule on either petition, and the outcome will have significant implications for FTX customers and the crypto industry as a whole.
In addition to the asset seizure dispute, the overall bankruptcy case is ongoing, with creditors like Sunil Kavuri expressing concerns about the proposed reorganization plan. Sentencing for other former FTX executives, such as Caroline Ellison and Gary Wang, who cooperated with prosecutors, is still pending.
The resolution of this case will be closely monitored as it could impact the recovery rates for victims and shape the long-term effects of FTX’s collapse on the crypto industry. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.