Crypto lender [BlockFi](/news/article/is-blockfi-bankrupt), which offered unsecured crypto loans to retail investors, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy late Monday. There had been indications that the FTX scandal could render crypto lender [BlockFi bankrupt](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/28/business/blockfi-bankruptcy-cryptocurrency-ftx.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes) due to its exposure to the fallen exchange. It is now official.

[BlockFi had suspended withdrawals](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-11/blockfi-pauses-withdrawals-says-can-no-longer-operate-as-usual) soon after the collapse of FTX, citing significant exposure to the Bahamas-based exchange. The role of [FTX's failure](/news/article/ftx-bankrupt-who-to-blame) in making BlockFi bankrupt is becoming more evident by the day. 

BlockFi says it owes $275m to FTX US in the bankruptcy filings before a New Jersey court. This amount was part of a $400m lifeline FTX offered BlockFi in June when it began experiencing a liquidity crunch following the collapse of crypto lenders Voyager and Celsius. There was also an option for FTX to buy BlockFi. These facts are only becoming public as the scope of the FTX scandal widens.

BlockFi's bankruptcy filing indicates that the firm had $10 billion in assets and liabilities. While the company said in its bankruptcy filing that it was working to recover obligations owed by several counterparties, it adds that any recovery efforts risked delays from FTX's bankruptcy proceedings.

## BlockFi bankrupt: What next?

BlockFi had been in trouble with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over its lending activities. It had been fined $100m by the SEC for not registering its crypto lending products as securities. In declaring BlockFi bankrupt, the filing said it still owes the regulator $30m, among other sums owed to more than 100,000 creditors.

The extent of BlockFi's entanglement with FTX continues to unravel. Bankruptcy filings reveal BlockFi made nearly $680 million in collateralized crypto loans to former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried's Alameda Research hedge fund, even as it got a financial reprieve from the FTX exchange. 

Initial reports indicate that billions of dollars in the FTX balance sheet are unaccounted for. Where FTX got the funds, it used to bail out BlockFi in June is now a subject of speculation. Answers may come in the weeks ahead.


BlockFi Bankrupt - Court Documents

Following the fall of the [FTX](https://www.ft.com/content/5d826ca9-389e-41ec-a38b-da43211da974) exchange and the market instability, Bill Ackman, the hedge fund manager and investor, says he remains optimistic about cryptocurrencies.

In a recent Twitter thread, the founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management [stated](https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/1594456744851558402) that, despite current issues, crypto is here for the long run. However, he said there is a need to enhance regulation and eliminate fraudulent individuals from the industry.

## Who is Bill Ackman?  

Bill Ackman is a billionaire American investor who recently advocated for [eliminating regulatory barriers](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-09/bill-ackman-calls-on-new-york-to-remove-crypto-barriers) and relaxing laws in New York to turn the city into a crypto centre. He is also an active participant in several [cryptocurrency](https://cointelegraph.com/blockchain-for-beginners/what-is-a-cryptocurrency-a-beginners-guide-to-digital-money) initiatives.

He believes crypto will stay and can benefit society and substantially build the global economy with proper control and regulation. 
However, he claims that technology needs to improve to combat its capacity to be used to perpetrate fraud.

The issue is that dishonest promoters might generate tokens solely to facilitate pump-and-dump strategies. Some cryptocurrencies are utilised for fraudulent reasons rather than for [legal company development](/news/article/rishi-sunak-crypto-believer-uk-pm).

## Bill Ackman is no longer a crypto sceptic

The investor now sees crypto as having "the ability to help society and develop the global economy substantially". 
He added that it could enable the establishment of essential enterprises and technology that could not previously exist.

It can also incentivise venture participants to gain access to a global workforce to promote a project.

Ackman highlighted that appropriate regulation and oversight would be critical in moving the technology forward.

The hedge fund manager's tweet follows the [FTX crash](/news/article/gemini-crypto-exchange-falls-prey). According to sources, he congratulated former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried for admitting his faults in a tweet but afterward deleted it.

In his post, [the investor](https://www.theblock.co/post/188684/bill-ackman-says-crypto-is-here-to-say-but-highlights-a-curious-use-case) used Helium, a blockchain-based network, as a favourable example of cryptocurrency.


Bill Ackman Bullish on Crypto

FTX’s [decline](/news/article/ftx-bankrupt-who-to-blame) has rattled the crypto market. Digital asset lending firms and exchanges are at the receiving end and falling like houses of cards. The [Gemini crypto exchange](https://www.gemini.com/) of the Winklevoss twins has also become one of the victims of FTX contagion. 

On 16 November, Gemini's Earn product experienced delays in withdrawals due to an outage. Curiously, the outage occurred just after its partner, [Genesis Global](https://genesis.global/), suspended withdrawals on its platform. Genesis took the step in the wake of the fall of the [Sam Bankman-Fried](/news/article/sam-bankman-fried-lost-billions) corporation.  

Earlier, the firm acknowledged its partner’s suspension of withdrawals in a [Twitter thread](https://twitter.com/Gemini/status/1592873279232278532). It also announced that its team is working with the crypto lender to ensure quick recovery of funds of the Earn program. 

It assured its clients that these events would not affect the activities on the [Gemini](/news/article/gemini-crypto-review) platform. However, a couple of hours later, it experienced an outage that shook investors' trust.

## Gemini crypto exchange outage caused $485m outflows

The server outage on the platform halted the operations affecting the withdrawals and deposits. However, it has only been down for about an hour. Per its official statement on Twitter, the disruption occurred at its primary databases due to the Amazon Web Services EBS.

The exchange's team swiftly recovered it and announced it was "fully back online".

![gemini exchange tweet](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/geminitweet_50471f672f.webp)
 
Moreover, it reassured its users about the safety of their funds. Nonetheless, the disruption created panic among the users, which resulted in mass outflows. 

According to [Nansen](https://www.nansen.ai/), the blockchain insights firm, more than $485 million has been withdrawn from the exchange in the past 24 hours. This is the highest outflow for any exchange in the same period. On the other hand, the inflows for the platform were only $78 million.  

## The unstoppable FTX contagion

Gemini and Genesis Global are just some digital asset service providers that suffered after the FTX collapse. Various other firms are moving towards insolvency. Crypto lenders [BlockFi](/news/article/ftx-collapse-blockfi-suspend-withdrawals) and SALT are recognised names among them. This collapse may affect many other significant firms in the future as investors' confidence seems to be shaken.


Gemini crypto exchange falls prey to FTX contagion

The[ Bitcoin](/news/article/feds-seize-bitcoin-stolen-crypto-scam) market faces volatility issues as FTX's downfall hits another crypto company, Genesis.

## Genesis Global Trading halts withdrawals and new loan originations

Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, the largest Bitcoin fund, dropped 7% on Wednesday as investors dumped more digital assets following the high-profile collapse of crypto exchange FTX last week.

Genesis Global Trading, a cryptocurrency investment bank, tweeted that the company was [temporarily halting withdrawals and new loan originations services](https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/bitcoin-price-genesis-crypto-latest-b2226380.html) because of FTX's fall.
 
![genesis crypto tweet](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/genesis1_720fa9e138.webp)

[Genesis](https://twitter.com/GenesisTrading), the most recent victim of FTX volatility, is owned by Digital Currency Group (DCG), which also owns Grayscale.

DCG tweeted that the freezing of Genesis' lending business did not affect the company or its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Grayscale stated that its products would continue to be fully operational, and its underlying assets would be unaffected. Genesis said that it was working to prevent the same fate as FTX.

The company stated that it had hired the best advisors in the business to explore all potential options.

Further, in a tweet, the company said, "We will deliver a lending business plan next week." The crypto firm claimed that it is working tirelessly to figure out the best lending solutions, including, among other things, sourcing new liquidity.

## Bitcoin volatility

Following the news on Wednesday, the price of Bitcoin fell even further, with the cryptocurrency now trading just for $16.5K.

Bitcoin volatility has seen the value fall by more than 75% since reaching an all-time high of around $69,000 in November 2021. 

Following the collapse of FTX, Bitcoin volatility saw the price fall below $16,000 for the first time since November 2020, after several months of stability.

## Impact of FTX collapse

The collapse of [FTX](/news/article/what-is-ftx) shook the volatile cryptocurrency market, which lost billions of dollars in value.

The consequences of the company’s sudden collapse will probably affect cryptocurrencies for a very long time to come and may even cause broader market declines. Many crypto firms are severely affected by the company's[ bankruptcy news](/news/article/ftx-bankrupt-who-to-blame).


Bitcoin Volatility: Price Drops to $16.5K 

The crypto lending firm, [BlockFi](https://blockfi.com/), certainly finds itself in hot waters after the [FTX collapse](/news/article/ftx-collapse-blockfi-suspend-withdrawals). Recently, it suspended withdrawals from client wallets and interest accounts. It is also facing a severe liquidity crisis as the [FTX exchange](/news/article/ftx-exchange-under-investigation) crashed. There are reports suggesting that the firm plans to lay off its workforce. So, is BlockFi bankrupt?

## Is BlockFi bankrupt?

Earlier, the firm denied having a line of credit of around $400 million from FTX. However, later it accepted its affiliation with the crashed exchange. The [Sam Bankman-Fried](/news/article/sam-bankman-fried) owned exchange provided this fund to BlockFi to bail it out in July. As the business has collapsed, it has again created financial problems for the crypto lender. 

Rumours suggest that the crypto lender is pondering filing for insolvency amid this situation. Other than that, it may even sack some of its employees to cut down its expenses. 

Moreover, it has already restricted activities on the platform, suspending withdrawals for its clients. These moves indicate that the firm might have to move towards complete closure. 

## Impact of FTX crash on other crypto firms

FTX collapse has rattled the entire crypto market. BlockFi is not the only platform that is facing issues after the decline of Sam Bankman-Fried’s exchange. Another digital asset lending platform, SALT, has also paused deposits and withdrawals. It has notified its users that “in light of recent industry events”, the firm has taken this step.

![blockfi.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/blockfi_d647bef6a0.png)
 
Furthermore, [SALT](https://saltlending.com/) has admitted that the fall of [SBF companies](/news/article/sam-bankman-fried-lost-billions) has also affected its business. Therefore, it is taking this step as a precautionary measure. However, the platform’s CEO, Shawn Owen, has clarified that it is [not going bust](https://twitter.com/Shawn_OwenJ/status/1592586857509896192). This is a temporary measure. It is to examine how much the events have affected the platform. Nonetheless, it will be effective immediately to limit potential risks.



Layoffs, & paused withdrawal: Is BlockFi bankrupt?

Witnessing the FTX collapse and volatility of the crypto market, German regulator Mark Branson has called for global crypto regulations.
 
The collapse of Bahamas-based FTX, which was widely regarded as one of the most reliable names in the industry until recently, has raised new concerns about the unregulated nature of crypto companies and what safeguards are in place to protect clients' assets. 

Crypto winter has severely affected the market resulting in ongoing crypto failures. Renowned firms have been closed due to liquidity issues. [FTX](/news/article/ftx-bankrupt-who-to-blame) is the latest in significant cryptocurrency failures this year, including hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, crypto lender [Celsius](/news/article/celsius-data-breach) Network, broker [Voyager](/news/article/crypto-lender-voyager-sells-assets) Digital and [Nuri bank](/news/article/nuri-bank-users-withdraw-funds).

## Mark Branson's statement at Frankfurt

According to German regulator Mark Branson, [crypto assets must be subject to global rules](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-14/german-regulator-bafin-sees-need-for-global-crypto-rules) if they are to be adopted by mainstream finance and exposed to banks and a broader range of investors.

At a Frankfurt event on Monday, the German regulator stated that the recent crash in digital assets was well-timed because the links between traditional finance and crypto are still limited, implying that it may not pose a risk to financial stability.

When asked about the fallout from [FTX](/news/article/ftx-collapse-blockfi-suspend-withdrawals) Group, Branson avoided mentioning any specific companies and said his comments applied to the industry as a whole.

Continuing his statement, Branson added that consumer protection is the most disturbing aspect noted in recent months.
The BaFin chief stated that cryptocurrency should either be shut out by building a "very, very strong wall" around the conventional banking system or by regulating the industry and seeing if "crypto money is in real competition with fiat money".

According to Branson, cryptocurrency is "massively susceptible to money laundering risks and doesn't have a handle on these". He stated that a set of rules for the industry would need to be addressed on a global scale rather than just in Europe.

Separately, Branson stated that despite recent issues in the cryptocurrency market, he does not anticipate a ripple effect affecting Germany's financial stability.


German Regulator Demands Crypto Regulation

The entire crypto market is reeling from the [crash](/news/article/ftx-collapse-blockfi-suspend-withdrawals) of the FTX exchange. Amid this, the price of all the major cryptocurrencies, including [Bitcoin](/coins/btc), [Ethereum](/coins/eth), and others, have plunged. On the other hand, NFTs have also felt some impact from this crash. But one of the collections that suffered the most is the [Bored Ape Yacht Club](https://boredapeyachtclub.com/) (BAYC) NFT collection.

The data from several sources suggest that the price of NFTs for this project is continually decreasing. One of the primary reasons behind it is the tumbling value of Ether. This has forced the holders to panic sell their digital art collectables. 

## The plunging value of the BAYC NFT collection

The data from [NFT Price Floor](https://nftpricefloor.com/) indicates that the CryptoPunks collection has replaced Bored Ape collectables. The floor price of CryptoPunks is 66.49 ETH, whereas the value for the [Bored Ape Yacht](/news/article/bored-ape-nft) collection is only 52.00 ETH. 

Besides, the data aggregator for collectables, [CryptoSlam](https://cryptoslam.io/bored-ape-yacht-club/sales/summary), further shows that the sales of NFTs have decreased over the past month. Last month, the total traded volume was $31,275,729.82. However, in November, till now it was $26,838,932.67.

## Why is the price falling for the BAYC NFT project? 

It is one of the most popular projects in the digital art market. The falling costs of these NFTs are quite alarming for the collectors. Though there are numerous factors for the decline in its value, [FTX collapse](/news/article/ftx-bankrupt-who-to-blame) is a major one. 

According to Wu Blockchain, the creators of BAYC, Yuga Labs, had stored around 18,000 ETH on the FTX’s Blockfolio for royalties.

![bayc.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/bayc_7a1534ef34.png)
 
Because of this, its collectables have experienced a more than 10% decline in value. Moreover, the project lost its first position due to the drop in market capitalisation. The collectors are now inclined towards owning a [CryptoPunks](/news/article/jay-z-cryptopunks-nft) collectable instead of this project’s NFTs.


Why BAYC NFTs Suffered Most from the FTX Crash

After facing the digital equivalent of a bank run, the [imploding crypto trading](https://www.seattletimes.com/business/explainer-whats-happening-at-bankrupt-crypto-exchange-ftx/) business is now in the red by billions of dollars. FTX, one of the biggest exchanges in the world, filed for bankruptcy last week. Its CEO and founder also resigned. The trading firm afterward stated that there had been "unauthorised access" and that cash had vanished.  

According to analysts, hundreds of millions in cash may have gone. Elliptic, an analytics firm, estimated on Saturday that $477 million was missing from the transaction. On social media, there was a debate about whether the exchange was hacked or whether a business insider had taken assets, which cryptocurrency analysts couldn't rule out.

Its new CEO, John Ray III, announced that it would disable the ability to trade or withdraw cash and would take actions to safeguard consumers' assets.

## FTX Bankrupt: How did it happen?

Customers abandoned the exchange due to concerns over its funds and agreed a sale to rival crypto [exchange](/news/article/ftx-uk-warning) Binance. However, the transaction fell through while Binance conducted due diligence on [FTX's](/news/article/ftx-vs-binance-liquidate-funds) balance sheet.

According to its bankruptcy petition, the crypto business estimated its assets at between $10 billion and $50 billion and identified more than 130 associated firms worldwide.

On Friday, FTX and hundreds of linked entities, including founder Sam Bankman-Fried's hedgefund Alameda Research, filed for bankruptcy in Delaware.

## FTX Bankrupt: Bankman-Fried accepts blame

Sam Bankman-Fried apologised on [Twitter Thursday morning](https://twitter.com/sbf_ftx/status/1590709166515310593?s=46&amp;t=Br1_HGNzUBwspKZ7pF6myA), saying he "f—-ed up" and should have done better. Bankman-Fried also announced the closure of Alameda Research, the trading business he co-founded with FTX.

The tweet comes as the former crypto industry star pleads for billions of dollars to avoid bankruptcy. 

This week has been a rapid fall from grace for FTX. After valuing the exchange at $32 billion earlier this year, Bankman-Fried is now searching for someone to backstop the crypto business [after rival exchange Binance withdrew from a plan](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/09/binance-backs-out-of-ftx-rescue-leaving-the-crypto-exchange-on-the-brink-of-collapse.html) to purchase it.

He is worth an estimated $23 billion and has been a major political donor to Democrats.



FTX bankrupt: Who's to blame?

A leading crypto lending firm, [BlockFi](https://blockfi.com/), has enforced the suspension of withdrawals for its clients. The firm has taken the step after the sudden collapse of [FTX](/news/article/ftx-vs-binance-liquidate-funds) that affected the entire market. 

Regarding this issue, the firm has put out a statement on Twitter to give clarity to its customers. It has announced that "we aren't able to operate business as usual".

The cryptocurrency lender has cited a need for more clarity by FTX.com, FTX US, and Alameda on this issue. It has further notified that it has to pause withdrawals until these platforms provide more clarity. Moreover, it has requested its clients not to deposit funds in its interest accounts and wallets.

![Picture1.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Picture1_938e08c10e.png)

## Earlier statement of BlockFi’s founder and COO

Paradoxically, this statement came just a few days after the COO and founder of BlockFi gave assurances about its operationality. On 8 November, Flori Marquez posted a long [thread](https://twitter.com/FounderFlori/status/1590030309076058112) to assure the clients that it was completely operational.

Marquez’s statement for the market downturn was that BlockFi could handle such situations. Moreover, he mentioned that the company runs independently and will remain the same till July 2023. 

Furthermore, he maintained that the company has access to 400 million USD through a line of credit from FTXUS. He also assured customers that the business was processing all client withdrawals in accordance with the Terms of Service.

However, today's announcement has refuted all these assurances. Clients cannot withdraw funds from their BlockFi wallets for an unknown period.  

## What happened to Sam Bankman-Fried’s exchange?

Sam Bankman-Fried has recently lost over [$14.6 billion](/news/article/sam-bankman-fried-lost-billions), which has removed him from Bloomberg’s list of billionaires. The reason for this is his company’s potential insolvency. Meanwhile, there’s also no lack of certainty whether Changpeng Zhao, [Binance’s](/news/article/guide-to-binance-uk) CEO, will assist the firm or not. 

Earlier, the FTT token also crashed, and Zhao announced to sell off all of its FTT holdings. Currently, both firms are in a clash, which could be one of the reasons the crypto market is tumbling.



FTX collapse prompts BlockFi to suspend withdrawals

The FTX exchange is being investigated for mishandling consumer funds and violating securities regulations. Regulatory investigations were among the primary reasons Binance decided not to acquire the firm.

## FTX exchange agreed to sell to Binance

After undergoing the cryptocurrency equivalent of a bank run, the [crypto business](https://fortune.com/crypto/2022/11/10/ftx-sam-bankman-fried-doj-sec-examining-source-says/) decided earlier this week to sell itself to a larger rival, Binance. Customers abandoned the exchange after getting worried about their capital.

## Why is SEC investigating the FTX exchange?

The [cryptocurrency market](https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-probes-ftx-over-handling-client-funds-bloomberg-news-2022-11-09/) has been volatile, with worries over the company's financial stability leading to $6 billion in withdrawals in the 72 hours following Tuesday morning. Binance later announced a [non-binding deal](https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/cryptocurrencies-slide-concerns-over-ftx-exchange-rattle-markets-2022-11-08/) to purchase FTX's non-US business to address a "liquidity constraint" at the rival exchange.

According to the source, the SEC is also looking into the business's ties with its US equivalent FTX US and Chief Executive Officer Sam Bankman-Fried's trading firm. The SEC does not want to speak on the existence or nonexistence of a prospective probe, said an SEC representative. A CFTC spokeswoman declined to comment as well.

The crypto community's and securities authorities' inquiry into [Bankman-Fried](/news/article/sam-bankman-fried-lost-billions) and his crypto company are centred on the potential that the firm utilised client deposits to support bets at Bankman-hedge Fried's fund, Alameda Research. Brokers in conventional markets are supposed to keep customer cash apart from other firm assets. Regulators can punish violations. 

An individual acquainted with the [FTX and Binance](/news/article/ftx-vs-binance-liquidate-funds) transactions described them as a "black hole" in which it was hard to distinguish between assets and liabilities. This individual said Bankman-Fried committed the "ultimate sin" by using custodial assets to support Alameda Research.

## Gensler's view on FTX exchange

Under Democratic leadership, the SEC has increased its examination of the cryptocurrency industry. Chair Gary Gensler has already expressed concerns about whether crypto platforms effectively separate funds and if their market-making operations are trading against their clients.

Earlier this year, a cryptocurrency start-up BlockFi Inc subsidiary [agreed to pay](https://cointelegraph.com/news/blockfi-limits-platform-activity-including-a-halt-on-client-withdrawals) a record penalty to resolve allegations connected to its retail lending product. Other organisations, like FTX, enable users to "stake" certain cryptocurrency tokens in exchange for a return.



FTX Exchange Under Investigation

[Sam Bankman-Fried](/news/article/bankman-fried-crypto-hack-fix) has vanished from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index after his estimated personal wealth fell nearly 94% in a single day to $991.5 million.

Bankman-Fried was worth an estimated $15.2 billion before his company's cash crunch, but according to Bloomberg, $14.6 billion was lost overnight. SBF became one of the crypto industry's darlings due to his rapid rise to financial success and eccentric personality.

## Binance to acquire Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX

With the market moving as it is, it may take some time for bulls to recover, especially since the circumstances surrounding FTX's insolvency and whether or not CZ can bail out SBF remains unclear.

[FTX](/news/article/ftx-uk-warning) was reportedly seeking funding from Silicon Valley and Wall Street billionaires to cover the bank run on its exchange, according to [Semafor](https://www.semafor.com/article/11/08/2022/before-deal-with-rival-ftx-scoured-wall-street-silicon-valley-billionaires-for-1-billion-lifeline). This is surprising given that SBF previously stated that FTX's client holdings are not invested anywhere. However, it appears that one of the world's largest exchanges was looking for $5-6 billion to cover the liquidity crisis.

Meanwhile, Binance CEO CZ announced his intention to purchase FTX after concerns about the Bahamas-based exchange's apparent insolvency grew, causing withdrawals to slow and FTT tokens to plummet. However, they have signed a non-binding letter of intent, which means CZ can back out of the deal if FTX's problems are more severe than anticipated.

Prior to this, CZ announced on Sunday his plan to [sell off his remaining FTT token holdings](/news/article/ftx-vs-binance-liquidate-funds), which he acquired as part of his exit from FTX.

## What does this mean for cryptocurrency?

Even if [Binance](/news/article/guide-to-binance-uk) acquires [FTX](/news/article/what-is-ftx), antitrust laws may apply, and it is still being determined whether both entities can proceed with the merger.

Furthermore, FTT's bleeding appears unabated (down 70% for the day), which may make the exchange unappealing for acquisition, especially if most customers have already left.

Suppose this turns out to be another case of retail suffering massive losses. In that case, regulators may be compelled to impose stricter rules, further restricting the freedom crypto has relished in recent years.


Sam Bankman-Fried lost $14.6 billion overnight

The CEO of [Binance](/news/article/guide-to-binance-uk) tweeted on Sunday that he will sell the remaining FTX token holdings he acquired as part of his exit from Alameda's sister company, FTX, last year.

## FTX vs Binance: Binance to sell off FTX token holdings

The exchange plans to sell off its FTX token holding. Changpeng "CZ" Zhao did not specify how much of the token holding his company would sell. 

The company received the funds in FTT as part of its exit from an early equity position in FTX that it had held since 2019. According to Zhao, FTX purchased Binance's stake in the company for $2.1 billion in FTT and BUSD—the stablecoin native to Binance's exchange.

The decision comes after weeks of criticism directed at [Sam Bankman-Fried](/news/article/bankman-fried-crypto-hack-fix), for regulatory plans he put forth in a blog post recommending DeFi restrictions. He has since agreed to revise his regulatory stance.

Due to market conditions and limited liquidity, CZ expects the liquidation to take several months. He also stated that it would be done in a way that attempts to minimise the market impact on FTT.

According to CoinGecko, [FTX](/news/article/ftx-uk-warning) native token has dropped 9.5% in the last day to $23.03 from $25.55, bouncing off a drop of around $22 on Sunday.

According to Etherscan, 22,999,999 FTT, worth $584 million, were transferred from a wallet to Binance's exchange on Saturday. As per CoinGecko, this is the equivalent of 17% of the circulating supply of the token. CZ confirmed that the funds were transferred as part of the exchange's plan to liquidate its stance in its holdings.

## FTX CEO response to rumours

Caroline Ellison, CEO of Alameda Research, responded to the rumours on Saturday by [tweeting](https://twitter.com/carolinecapital/status/1589264375042707458) that Alameda had more than $10 billion in assets "not reflected" on the leaked balance sheet. Ellison said that Alameda had unnamed hedges in place and had already given back the majority of their outstanding loans.

In a Sunday Twitter thread, Zhao stated that liquidating its position in FTT was not intended to be a dig at its competitor.

Caroline Ellison [offered](https://twitter.com/carolinecapital/status/1589287457975304193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1589287457975304193%7Ctwgr%5E0c48a34558db0fa0aa1e49b2de077b6568e651f4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.coindesk.com%2Fbusiness%2F2022%2F11%2F06%2Fbinance-sells-holdings-of-ftx-token-as-alameda-ceo-defends-firms-financial-condition%2F) to purchase Binance's remaining FTT for a fixed price of $22 if Zhao also wanted to "minimise the market impact" of the move.

Binance has been the most active exchange in terms of FTT volume in the last 24 hours. According to CoinGecko, Binance accounted for 6.3% of FTT's trading volume, or $95.4 million, in the previous 24 hours.

FTX vs Binance clash: Binance to liquidate funds

## FTX UK warning - not authorized to operate in United Kingdom, warns FCA

A notification about FTX exchange's UK operations has been issued by Britain's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The statement said that FTX, one of the world's largest crypto exchanges, is not authorized to operate in the UK.

[The statement](https://www.fca.org.uk/news/warnings/ftx), first published on 16 September, 2022, said the FCA believed FTX might be providing financial services or products without authorization. It further stated that the firm is not authorized by the FCA and is targeting people in the UK.

Referring to FTX UK operations, the statement added that "almost all firms and individuals" who offer, promote, or sell financial services in the UK must be registered. When asked about the notice, a spokesperson of the exchange told [Bloomberg ](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-19/uk-regulator-issues-warning-on-crypto-exchange-ftx-to-consumers?sref=3REHEaVI)that they were aware of the FTX UK statement by the FCA. They also noted that among the contact info listed about the exchange, the phone numbers were incorrect, indicating a scammer might be impersonating it. 
On 19 September, 2022, Sam Bankman-Fried, the firm's CEO, [tweeted](https://twitter.com/SBF_FTX/status/1571877868963233792?s=20&t=v-X6cbEyYbmN__tYUB-R2A), reiterating that a scammer was impersonating the platform in the UK by phone. In the tweet, he stated that the exchange will never call anyone by phone and provided links that allowed access to the platform.

As of 14 October, the FCA has updated its warning against the platform to exclude the phone numbers believed to be tied to scammers. However, the regulator still warns UK citizens against engaging with the platform as it is unauthorized to operate in the country.

The statement warned UK citizens about engaging with unauthorized firms. Those who engage with unauthorized firms will not be able to access the Financial Ombudsman Service that settles disputes between companies and individuals.

There will also not be protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). If anything goes wrong and they lose their funds, they might not be able to recover the money.

## About the exchange

Launched in May 2019, FTX is a multibillion-dollar crypto exchange and trading platform owned by Bankman-Fried. It is incorporated in Antigua and Barbuda and headquartered in the Bahamas.

It has more than a million users worldwide and is available in many countries. While it is not available in the US, among other countries, it offers US citizens its services through FTX US.

The firm is not the only crypto asset firm to be put in the spotlight by Britain’s regulator for conducting business in the UK without authorization. [Binance](/news/article/guide-to-binance-uk), another major global crypto exchange, has been issued several warnings by the regulator about its activities in the UK. On 7 March, 2022, the firm was warned against undertaking any regulated activities in the UK without their written consent.

So far, only a few crypto asset firms are authorized by the regulator to operate in the UK. They include Gemini, Kraken, and Crypto.com.

FTX UK Warning from FCA

One of the top-rated cryptocurrency exchanges, FTX, has secured the auction for Voyager Digital’s assets. The [crypto firm Voyager](/news/article/voyager-crypto) confirms that FTX US made the winning bid for the company’s assets, which was $1.422 billion. 

[Sam Bankman-Fried’s](/news/article/sam-bankman-fried) exchange competed for this sale with the crypto investment firm [Wave Financial](https://wavegp.com/). Apart from that, Binance, CrossTower, and several other virtual asset firms also participated in the auction.

On Monday, the exchange issued a [press release](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/voyager-completes-successful-auction-and-announces-agreement-for-ftx-to-acquire-its-assets-301633679.html) announcing the auction’s completion. It mentioned that the bidding war took place for two weeks. It has concluded with the Bahamas-based firm’s winning bid. 

Moreover, it disclosed that the accepted bid includes the future market value of the firm, which is $1.311 billion. Also, it consists of an estimated incremental value of $111 million. 

## Bankruptcy of the crypto firm Voyager

Earlier this year, in July, crypto Voyager Digital filed for [bankruptcy protection](/news/article/crypto-lending-platform-voyager) in the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection allows businesses to continue their operations while they figure out a plan for either restructuring or selling it. 

It suffered losses of around $650 million as [Three Arrows Capital (3AC)](/news/article/genesis-crypto-claim) defaulted. When filing for the protection, the company was in financial ruin as it had a debt of $1 billion. Following that, it restrained its consumers from retrieving their funds. 

## What is in store for the future of Voyager Digital?

As of now, the company has not provided much information regarding its customer’s crypto funds. However, it has been mentioned that the information regarding how the customers will be able to access their funds will be shared “as it becomes available.”

Nonetheless, it clarified that the exchange would allow its customers to stock and trade their virtual assets. However, it will be authorised after the firm’s chapter 11 bankruptcy cases are resolved. Moreover, this deal will also be completed after the conclusion of the debt issues. The expected date for its decision is October 19.





crypto lender voyager sells assets to ftx

Crypto lender Voyager's assets auctioned to FTX US

FTX is one of the top-rated crypto exchanges in the world. It was founded by renowned entrepreneurs and investors Sam Bankman Fried and Gary Wang. The exchange launched in 2019, with its headquarters in the Bahamas. 

It offers a range of services in the crypto space. In the last few years, the platform has become increasingly popular. Now, it is only behind Binance and Coinbase, according to [CoinMarketCap rankings](https://coinmarketcap.com/rankings/exchanges/). 

Are you interested in learning more about what FTX exchange is and what services it offers? Here are all the details!

## What does FTX offer?

It is a centralised cryptocurrency exchange that offers various services and products. Here are a few of them! 

1.	Various leveraged coin pairs on the exchange offer up to 3x returns. 
2.	Its futures trading allows short-term and long-term bets. You can trade assets at a set future price and date.
3.	With Spot, you can trade in over 100 pairs.
4.	Its options feature gives you call-and-put options so that you can speculate and hedge future prices by mitigating risks.
5.	It allows trading in 11 different fiat currencies, including USD, GBP, CAD, AUD, EUR, etc.
6.	Its MOVE contracts enable you to wager the change in price over time. The price change can be in either direction, and you can make a profit from it. 
7.	It has its native token, FTT, that you can stake to make profits. 
8.	The exchange also offers a range of advanced, basic, and reduce-only order types. 

## What is the FTX exchange fee?

The platform does not have a withdrawal or deposit fee. However, you have to pay for withdrawing BTC, ETH, and other ERC-20 tokens. Bitcoin withdrawals of less than 0.01 would be charged 0.1% trading fees. But your first withdrawals and withdrawals over 0.01 BTC will be free. 

On the other hand, for fiat currencies, the trading fees range from 0.02-0.07% if the amount is smaller than $5000. However, trades over this amount will be free. Moreover, if you have staked the FTTs, you would not have to pay this fee.   

## Regulation and security 

Regulation and security can be one of the main concerns of investors. However, FTX can be a safe option as it is looking to register in different parts of the world, including the [UK and the US](/news/article/ftx-europe-uk-expansion). Currently, it is regulated by the Bahamas Securities Commission. Also, FTX US is held by the US’s FinCEN bureau.
 
Moreover, the company rebranded LedgerX as a crypto derivatives platform, [FTX US Derivatives](https://derivs.ftx.us/), in the US. This platform is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). 

To ensure the security of the transactions, FTX uses the 2-factor authentication method. You might get an SMS or a notification from Google to log in on the exchange. Moreover, it also seeks help from cybersecurity firms like FBG Capital, True USD, and Circle. They audit the security and maintain transparency. 

## What is FTX token, FTT?

The exchange has also introduced its token, FTT. The token can be quite beneficial for investors for various reasons. For one, it can be staked to generate a passive income. Moreover, it allows you to pay the exchange’s trading fee. Also, it helps in futures trading by working as collateral. 

FTX is a highly reputable crypto derivatives exchange. It caters to all digital asset investors regardless of their investing exposure. The array of crypto trading services it offers allows you to make comprehensive profits. 

The firm ensures commendable security and transparency, making it a reliable choice for investors. Apart from that, as it is seeking a green signal from numerous regulators and partnering with reputable crypto exchanges like [Reddit](/news/article/reddit-partner-with-ftx-crypto), FTX might become a global leader in future. 


What is FTX crypto exchange? 

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), responsible for crypto regulation in the UK, has reiterated the unauthorised status of FTX. Recently,[FCA issued a warning](https://www.fca.org.uk/news/warnings/ftx) for the consumers in the country that the exchange is working without approval. The regulating body has added the company to the list of unregistered digital asset firms. Following this, the FTX UK ban is expected. 

The crypto exchange had planned to seek [expansion into the UK](/news/article/ftx-europe-uk-expansion) and European markets in March 2022. The Sam Bankman-Fried exchange pursued approval from the British regulators. However, FCA’s strict enforcement of anti-money laundering laws has not allowed the business to get the registration.

## FCA’s warning for consumers

The warning issued by the crypto market watchdog says, “We believe this firm may be providing financial services or products in the UK without our authorisation.” It cautioned the investors that they would not get their money back in case of losses. 

It also mentioned that the consumers of this service would not be eligible for Financial Ombudsman Service or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Moreover, regulators advised that consumers must deal with registered firms to protect themselves financially. 

## Enforcement of crypto regulations in the UK

This is not the first instance of such a warning from the British regulating body. Earlier, they issued warnings for several virtual asset service providers. Among them, a famous firm is Binance. Last year, in June, regulators deemed the activities of Binance to be unauthorised, which led the firm to relocate its headquarters to Ireland.

Meanwhile, FCA received around 248 applications for authorisation. But only 37 are registered cryptocurrency and digital asset companies in the country. Recently, Crypto.com has been one firm to get approval. Other known names to get the approval are eToro UK, Rubicon Digital Limited, DRW Global Markets LTD, Uphold Europe Limited, etc.

## Will it lead to an FTX UK ban?

Britain’s policies have been strict for the enforcement of [regulations](/news/article/fca-crypto-regulation). The list of unapproved firms indicates that. FTX has become the latest company on the list. Regardless of the strict enforcement, the regulators have not yet pushed for a complete ban on any firm. Therefore, an FTX UK ban also looks unlikely. Nonetheless, this step may affect the company’s operations in the region. 


FTX UK ban expected, FCA iterates unlicensed status

According to a series of letters sent on Tuesday morning, the 30th of August 2022, House Committee on Oversight and Reform requested information and documents from four agencies and five digital asset exchanges. [Coinbase](https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/COIN), FTX, Binance.US, Kraken, and KuCoin were among the parties contacted about what they are doing to protect consumers from scams and combat cryptocurrency-related fraud.
 
The letters request that government authorities and cryptocurrency exchanges respond by the 12th of September with details regarding their efforts to protect customers. According to the committee, the respondents' feedback will be utilised to develop legislative solutions.
 
The letters specifically request that the exchanges produce documents dating back to the 1st of January 2009. To demonstrate efforts to combat crypto scams and fraud, as well as efforts to identify, investigate, and remove or flag potentially fraudulent digital assets or accounts, as well as discussions about "whether to adopt more stringent policies.
 
In one letter to Sam Bankman-Fried, CEO and creator of FTX, the committee states that although some exchanges evaluate cryptocurrencies before listing them, others allow digital assets to sign up with little or no verification.
 
According to FTC analysis, more than $1 billion in cryptocurrency has been lost to fraud since 2021.
 
## Congress looks at crypto schemes developed by companies

Chainalysis, a blockchain analytics firm, discovered that [37% of crypto scam money](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/30/coinbase-ftx-binance-get-inquiries-from-congress-on-crypto-scams.html?__source=google%7Ceditorspicks%7C&par=google#:~:text=Blockchain%20analytics%20firm%20Chainalysis%20found,then%20vanishing%20with%20the%20funds.) last year went to "rug pulls". A rug pull is when someone lists a token on an exchange and invests in it to increase the price and market demand before selling the position at a premium and disappearing with the proceeds.

Binance US, which received an [investigation](https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/new-binance-class-action-likely-clears-one-hurdle-faces-plenty-others-2022-06-14/) from the committee on Tuesday, has been charged in a class action complaint with deceiving customers about the safety of investing in [terraUSD](/news/article/terra-usd) (UST) and its sister token, Luna.

The terms and conditions of the investor-crypto exchange agreement also differ, which needs to be standardised.
Agencies will continue infighting and cannot successfully implement consumer and investor safeguards relating to cryptocurrencies and the exchanges on which they are traded unless clear definitions and advice are provided. 






Congress investigates crypto firms scam protection

Reddit crypto involvement has expanded with the announcement of a collaboration with cryptocurrency exchange FTX.

The partnership allows users to manage community points. It also enables users to buy Ethereum cryptocurrency via integration with FTX.

FTX, the [cryptocurrency exchange](/news/article/best-crypto-exchange-uk-reddit) run by billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried, this week confirmed that Reddit users can now manage their blockchain-based community points via the company's payment system, FTX Pay.

As part of the partnership, FTX Pay will be integrated as a payment and cryptocurrency exchange service, enabling new benefits for Reddit Community Points.

## Reddit Crypto Engagement

In 2020, Reddit introduced community points as a means to reward members for engaging with a community. These points are held in the "Vault," a user's blockchain-based wallet that also stores the collectible NFT (non-fungible token) avatars that Reddit unveiled last month. These community points are based on the Ethereum blockchain.

Reddit offers a variety of options to utilise community points, including earning community-specific memberships, voting on issues, recognising creators on the site, and submitting tips. 

Community points are shown next to a user's username as a measure of their reputation on the site. Community points can currently only be used by members of the two subreddits r/Cryptocurrency and r/ForniteBR, but Reddit wants to open it up to more communities eventually.

As community points are stored on the Ethereum blockchain, utilising them will result in gas costs or the price of making a transaction on the Ethereum blockchain.

This entails paying a charge in Ethereum, which some users might not have or may not know how to use. The Reddit partnership with crypto exchange FTX means users can now convert fiat currency (a nation's official currency, such as USD) to Ethereum to pay for those charges. That makes community points more accessible for individuals who may not be familiar with cryptocurrencies.

The FTX-Reddit crypto integration might be seen as Bankman-Fried's bet on the stability of the meme stock phenomena, which started on Reddit.



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