In a significant development, OKX, one of the top digital asset exchange platforms, recently transferred a staggering $60 million worth of USDT (Tether) and MASK tokens to Alameda Research. According to Arkham Intelligence, a crypto analytics platform, this transfer included around $55.77 million in USDT and approximately $1.3 million in Mask Network, conducted through 16 transactions on May 9.
Interestingly, Alameda Research was the sister company to the Sam Bankman-Fried-led FTX exchange, which faced a crushing collapse in 2022. Following this, the crypto hedge fund also failed and resorted to filing multiple lawsuits to recover customer funds, such as a case against Voyager Digitals for $446 million in January 2023. Today, Alameda Research boasts digital assets valued at no less than $284 million in its wallets, primarily held in BitDAO (BIT), USDT, Stargate Finance (STG), and Ether (ETH).
FTX’s downfall last year sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency community, as investigations uncovered numerous unauthorized transactions and misappropriation of funds on the platform. This led to many traders and investors losing substantial capital, ultimately resulting in bankruptcy and new management for the firm. In turn, FTX and Alameda have sought to reclaim previously sent funds from other digital asset companies.
The March 30 announcement sheds light on OKX’s motivation behind their recent move, as it revealed their intention to return roughly $157 million to Alameda and FTX. FTX requested the release of this amount, which OKX agreed to. The transfer of $60 million in USDT and MASK tokens clearly showcases OKX’s dedication to making amends.
The spectacular collapse of FTX initiated a series of bankruptcy proceedings for about 130 other crypto companies, including Alameda Research. This widespread fallout resulted from dubious activities within FTX, involving external entities such as Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda. A report from December 2022 stated that she pled guilty to working with Sam Bankman-Fried to embezzle funds from FTX customers.
As for the transfer of funds from OKX, market observers eagerly await updates on the situation and the potential implications for impacted creditors. The willingness of OKX to return such a substantial sum is a promising sign, but the road to recovery for Alameda, FTX, and the entire affected crypto community may still be a long one.
Source: Cryptonews
