Messari estimates up to 50% of FTX user funds recoverable

1 year ago

FTX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy connected Nov. 11 pursuing days of aggravated speculation implicit the company’s fiscal health.

Over this period, galore allegations emerged that suggested FTX’s apical brass were successful implicit their heads. These see the transgression mismanagement of idiosyncratic funds, favorable attraction of trading limb Alameda, including “insider info” to front-run token listings, and bailouts connected important trading losses successful a analyzable Ponzi involving the FTT token.

Those who trusted FTX person funds locked connected the platform. However, bankruptcy proceedings necessitate a thorough appraisal of assets and liabilities, with users, arsenic unsecured creditors, apt past successful line.

In airy of the situation, erstwhile Blockchain.com worker @Mandrik speculated bankruptcy proceedings whitethorn reason successful six years, by which clip users “will beryllium fortunate to get backmost pennies connected the dollar.”

However, calculations by Messari estimation up to 50% of users’ assets whitethorn beryllium recoverable.

FTX users could get fractional their funds back

Messari Research Analyst Kunal Goel said helium utilized “rough equilibrium sheet” information from the Financial Times and estimated users could person betwixt 40% to 50% of their deposits back, meaning “all is not lost.”

Goel’s breakdown shows $622 cardinal successful liquid assets, $616 cardinal successful “less liquid assets,” and $2,870 cardinal successful illiquid assets. The full just worth of assets comes successful astatine $4,109 million. Subtracting bankruptcy costs, specified arsenic ineligible fees, astatine 20%, the nett worth of assets is $3,287 million.

Meanwhile, liabilities dwell of lawsuit deposits astatine $8,399 million, and “other” liabilities amounting to $460 million, bringing full liabilities to $8,859 million.

The ratio of full assets to lawsuit deposits equals 0.49, portion the much realistic nett assets to lawsuit deposits ratio is 0.39.

Goel pointed retired that the wallet hack, successful which hackers stole $477 million, dealt a important stroke to idiosyncratic money recovery. However, the figures supra (held successful “less liquid assets”) person excluded exploited funds.

Sam Bankman-Fried speaks

Picking up connected the bid of bizarre tweets, erstwhile FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) began posting much coherent messages from Nov. 15 onwards.

SBF said helium wants to “do close by customers” implicit investors. He added that helium is actively moving with regulators and unit to execute this goal.

13) My goal—my 1 goal—is to bash close by customers.

I’m contributing what I tin to doing so. I’m gathering in-person with regulators and moving with the teams to bash what we tin for customers.

And aft that, investors. But first, customers.

— SBF (@SBF_FTX) November 15, 2022

In now-deleted tweets, SBF was connected grounds giving galore statements that were aboriginal proven false, including “FTX is fine,” and FTX U.S. is solvent.

As such, societal media comments connected intentions to “do close by customers” were overwhelmingly skeptical.

SBF continued the thread saying possibly his efforts volition not wage off, but “all I tin bash is to try.”

Binance reported that SBF has been attempting to woo investors for funding. However, it is reported that, truthful far, his efforts person been fruitless.

The station Messari estimates up to 50% of FTX idiosyncratic funds recoverable appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.

View source