FTX User Debt at $1.6 Billion

According to court documents filed by FTX in late 2022, the company had $1.3 billion in assets and only owed customers about $102 when it filed for bankruptcy. Many analysts questioned these figures, calling them suspect because there was no need to liquidate a company with a debt-to-asset ratio of less than one to ten.

sam bankman-fried ftx
sam bankman-fried ftx

Shocking news has recently hit the airwaves as specifics of the FTX balance sheet surface. The data shows a sizable discrepancy between the company’s current BTC holdings and its outstanding customer debt. In the wake of an analyst posting the balance sheet on Twitter, it was revealed that FTX only has $1 million worth of Bitcoin while owing its clients a startling $1.6 billion.

The financial expert went on to say that according to the balance sheet, the firm’s assets are valued at roughly $5.5 billion, while the entire customer obligations equal about $11.5 billion.

These revelations have sparked new discussions about how a company that revolutionized the sector quickly went from being the fourth-largest exchange in the world to becoming bankrupt. Recent court documents have detailed how Sam Bankman-Fried, the infamous company’s former CEO, brought it to its knees by participating in multiple illicit political donations. He is accused of disbursing tens of millions of dollars under the guise of loans or expenses. Still, there was no mention of interest rates, any security, or any indication that the loans would be repaid.

Prosecutors called this behavior an “exploitation of the trust that FTX customers placed in him and the organization” in a recently read indictment.

The now disgraced CEO is free on bond after pleading not guilty to eight counts of fraud. He is also under house arrest in Palo Alto, California, where he lives with his parents. Bankman-Fried is charged with money laundering, banking fraud, and other offenses. New charges including conspiracy to operate a money transfer business illegally, have recently been levelled against him.

The new CEO Ray boasts decades of guiding multinationals through bankruptcy, including Enron in 2001. When taking over the role, he said he has not seen anything over his career compared to the situation at FTX.

Prosecutors also believe Bankman-Fried stole customer funds from the FTX exchange to cover losses at his hedge fund, Alameda Research. The fund’s former CEO, Caroline Ellison, pleaded guilty to fraud charges and offered to cooperate with the authorities in the investigations.

Global cryptocurrency enthusiasts and investors are closely monitoring what is occurring at FTX. Some investors could have already written off their losses, but there may be others who still think they will eventually be compensated. What is now obvious is that the issues with the erstwhile crypto exchange are far from being resolved. We will provide you with the most recent news at dappGambl as it develops.

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Eugene Abungana
Eugene Abungana - Investment Analyst, Financial Analyst, and Institutional Trader
190 Articles

Eugene is a crypto and iGaming writer, with a passion for sharing the latest trends and developments in the industry. His fascination with cryptocurrency started in 2014 when he first discovered Bitcoin. He has since expanded his knowledge and experience through education, trading, gaming, and working with different experts. My goal is to offer unbiased and accurate information while promoting ethical and responsible gambling practices.

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Reviewed and Fact Checked by Vlad Hategan , NFT Gaming Specialist