Latest FTX allegations include plan to buy Nauru to survive cataclysm
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Bankrupt FTX Trading ’s latest lawsuit against co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried and his former top executives have revealed new details about the allegations of massive fraud at the fallen crypto conglomerate.
According to the complaint, FTX Trading is seeking to claw back millions of dollars in cash and unwind over $US1 billion ($1.5 billion) in questionable transactions.
The island of Nauru.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The lawsuit revealed Caroline Ellison, former co-chief executive officer at affiliated hedge fund Alameda Research, estimated a more than $US10 billion ($14.8 billion) cash deficit at FTX.com about eight months before the crypto exchange fell apart.
The document also claims that Bankman-Fried and former FTX chief technology officer Gary Wang took $US546 million ($811 million) from Alameda in May 2022 to acquire shares in Robinhood Markets.
The lawsuit said the FTX Foundation — FTX’s not-for-profit arm — pursued projects that were “frequently misguided and sometimes dystopian”. It alleged that a memo exchanged between a foundation officer and Bankman-Fried’s brother, Gabriel Bankman-Fried, laid out a plan to purchase the tiny island nation of Nauru and build a bunker there.
In the event that half or more of the global population died, the island would then be used to ensure the survival of members of the effective altruism movement — a philosophy that Sam Bankman-Fried publicly ascribed to. The memo noted that “probably there are other things it’s useful to do with a sovereign country, too,” according to the complaint.
Ellison gave herself a $US22.5 million ($33.4 million) bonus around the time in March 2022 when she estimated a more than $US10 billion cash shortfall at FTX.com, according to the lawsuit. Through a series of convoluted transfers, Ellison allegedly deposited the money from Alameda into her FTX account, with $US10 million of the funds making their way to her personal bank account.
Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda, has agreed to plead guilty for her role in FTX’s collapse and to testify against Bankman-Fried.
She used the money for a $US10 million investment in an artificial intelligence company in her own name. On different occasions in 2021 and 2022, Ellison also allegedly misappropriated funds to give herself a multimillion-dollar bonus. The complaint noted that “no ‘bonus’ could possibly be justified given Ellison’s extensive misconduct.”
Much has been made of Sam Bankman-Fried’s inner circle and their special privileges. The complaint lays out how executives benefited from their claimed abuses of power.
On one occasion, Nishad Singh, FTX’s former director of engineering, allegedly received a fraudulent transfer of about $US477 million ($708 million) worth of FTX common shares without having to pay anything in return. Sam Bankman-Fried allegedly granted himself rights to more than $US6 million in equity without paying anything in return in February 2020. Ellison also allegedly received 2.75 million valuable FTX call options without providing anything in return between December 2020 and March 2021.
Sam Bankman-Fried had expressed ambitions of taking FTX public on a number of occasions. The complaint alleges that he was taking steps, albeit fraudulent ones, to make his goal a reality.
The lawsuit claims that in April 2021, he signed a sham “Payment Agent Agreement” that was falsely backdated by nearly two years. The agreement had been readied for an external auditor, who was supposed to prepare a financial statement of FTX as the firm considered an initial public offering.
Ellison, Wang and Singh have admitted to fraud and are co-operating with federal prosecutors. Sam Bankman-Fried has rejected an array of charges and faces a trial in October.
A representative for Sam Bankman-Fried declined to comment on the latest lawsuit. Lawyers for Wang, Singh, Ellison and Gabriel Bankman-Fried didn’t immediately respond to messages sent after normal business hours seeking comment on the complaint.
The case is FTX Trading Ltd, 22-11068, US Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware.
Bloomberg
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