FTX Reimburses 16 Billion To Its Clients, But Not In Crypto...

The legal saga of FTX is finally coming to an end. After nearly two years of battles and attempts to recover funds, the court has finally ordered the repayment of $16 billion to former customers of the exchange platform through the validation of a plan.

The court’s decision: a ray of hope for FTX clients

This Monday, October 7, 2024, the Delaware bankruptcy court officially validated the $16 billion repayment plan for former exchange clients. Judge John Dorsey, in charge of the case related to the FTX bankruptcy, gave the green light after reviewing nearly two years of procedures to recover funds and negotiate agreements with various stakeholders. This sum, recovered through complex liquidation operations and legal proceedings, will be distributed to the majority of clients.

The approved plan stipulates that clients will receive about 118% of the dollar value of their accounts at the time of the bankruptcy in November 2022. This figure is the result of a series of negotiations and asset recoveries on a global scale, notably from FTX subsidiaries and partners. However, the distribution will be in fiat currency, not cryptos, which has created mixed reactions from some investors. Many hoped to recover their assets in cryptos, particularly Bitcoin, whose value has significantly increased since 2022.

Industry reactions

Despite the plan’s approval, some frustration remains among the platform’s former users. Many investors believed they should be reimbursed in cryptos, especially those who had invested in assets like Bitcoin, which has seen its value rise significantly over the past two years. This disconnect between the value of cryptos at the time of bankruptcy and the current value is at the heart of the discontent.

Moreover, this decision could have significant implications for the crypto industry. The fact that the repayment is made in dollars rather than cryptos raises further questions about the security and protection of investors in the context of other crypto company bankruptcies. In the future, platforms may be pushed to reconsider their fund management structures and to develop crisis plans more suited to crypto market fluctuations. The FTX bankruptcy and its repayment plan will undoubtedly serve as a precedent for regulators and crypto companies seeking to secure investors’ assets.

With the validation of the FTX repayment plan, a chapter closes for the millions of investors harmed by the platform’s downfall. However, this decision, far from putting a final point on the matter, opens new perspectives for reflection on the future of crypto exchanges and their regulation. Thus, the challenges related to managing bankruptcies in an ever-evolving ecosystem, where crypto values fluctuate unpredictably, will compel authorities and companies to reassess their strategies. The FTX case, due to its magnitude and repercussions, will continue to fuel debates in the crypto world for years to come.