FTX: A collapsed crypto giant recovers more than $5bn in assets

An attorney for the firm claims that FTX, a collapsed cryptocurrency exchange, has found more than $5bn of assets (£4.1bn).

A US bankruptcy court heard Wednesday that the extent and severity of customer losses is not yet known.

Prosecutors accuse FTX’s former chief Executive Sam Bankman-Fried, of orchestrating a “epic” fraud that could have cost investors and customers billions of dollars.

Mr Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty in the absence of evidence that he cheated investors.

Andy Dietderich, an attorney representing FTX, stated that he had located more than 5 billion dollars in cash, liquid cryptocurrency, and liquid investment securities. He told US Bankruptcy Judge John Dorsey, Delaware, that he was confident.

Mr Dietderich stated that the assets recovered funds did not include assets seized from the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (where FTX was based) and Mr Bankman-Fried at the time of his arrest.

The hearings did not include most of the investors and customers of FTX who are currently facing losses.

Court filings did mention however, American football star Tom Brady and his ex-wife Giselle Bundchen, as well as Robert Kraft, the New England Patriots’ owner.

The 30-year-old man was detained in the Bahamas in December and brought to the United States. He is accused of “one of the largest financial frauds in American history.”

FTX, which was valued at $32bn a year ago, filed for bankruptcy protection 11 November. According to estimates, $8bn was missing from customer funds.

US Federal prosecutors have charged Mr Bankman-Fried with misappropriating funds from FTX customers to pay off debts at Alameda Research, his cryptocurrency trading company, and make other investments.

Eight criminal charges were announced by prosecutors in December, including wire fraud and money laundering. He has also been sued by financial regulators.

Gary Wang, a co-founder of FTX, and Caroline Ellison (the former head at Alameda) were also charged with their alleged involvement in the collapse of the company. They both cooperated with the investigation, according to authorities.

Late December saw Mr Bankman-Fried released on $250m bail with the condition that he do not leave California to visit his parents.

He said that he didn’t intend to commit fraud in an interview with BBC News just before his arrest. I don’t believe I was guilty of fraud. I didn’t want this to happen. I wasn’t nearly as competent as my thinking.