Following the collapse of FTX, a new legal battle has emerged over the millions of dollars in assets seized from Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the former CEO currently serving a 24-year prison sentence. Multiple parties are now seeking control of the assets seized from SBF and former FTX executives, which include airplanes, funds held at 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 seeking control of the seized assets. They argue that they have the “superior right” to the assets and that they should be used to repay creditors. On the other hand, a separate petition filed by a group of FTX customers represented by prominent crypto lawyers Adam Moskowitz and David Boies, including Sunil Kavuri, who testified against SBF during his trial, argues that the seized assets should be returned directly to FTX users, bypassing the bankruptcy process altogether.
Judge Lewis Kaplan has yet to rule on either petition, and the legal battle is likely to be complex. Both sides are presenting arguments regarding the legitimacy of their claims and the best course of action to recover lost funds. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for both FTX customers and the broader crypto ecosystem.
The fight over seized assets is just one aspect of the ongoing fallout from the FTX collapse. The overall bankruptcy case is still in progress, with creditors like Kavuri expressing concerns about the proposed reorganization plan. Additionally, sentencing for other former FTX executives who cooperated with prosecutors, including Caroline Ellison and Gary Wang, is still pending. The court’s decision on the seized assets will be closely watched as it could impact the overall recovery rates for victims and influence the long-term impact of the exchange’s demise on the crypto industry.
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