Liquidators currently hold over $110 million in BTC from the now-disgraced Alameda Research hedge fund, founded by Sam Bankman-Fried, as revealed by a recent report from blockchain analysis firm Arkham Intelligence. Interestingly, these wallets have been actively receiving BTC from exchanges and cold wallets as recent as March 2023. This sum, however, represents only a fraction of the BTC that Alameda previously controlled.
The report shows that at its peak, wallets associated with Alameda’s BTC activity had a value of over $800 million, which led to the suggestion that the firm may still hold additional BTC in centralized exchanges or unlinked cold wallets. Further examination of wallet transactions reveals how the liquidators collected BTC from the firm’s holdings. In April, a 1 BTC test from Alameda’s Merchant wallet was sent to a holding address controlled by their liquidators, and since the start of 2023, this address alone has accumulated 3,581 BTC, valued at around $97.19 million today.
Alameda Research, founded in 2017 by American entrepreneur and investor Sam Bankman-Fried, was, at one time, a leading quantitative cryptocurrency trading firm with headquarters in Central and Western Hong Kong. Nonetheless, the company found itself in hot water after multiple lawsuits in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on May 17. These lawsuits, filed by FTX Trading (Debtors), along with Alameda Research and West Realm Shires (Plaintiff), targeted former FTX executives like Sam Bankman-Fried, Nishad Singh, and Gary Wang in an effort to recover funds connected to Embed Financial Technologies’ acquisition.
While cryptocurrency enthusiasts may see the value in recovering BTC from a firm like Alameda Research, it’s crucial to remain skeptical and consider all sides. For instance, the remaining funds held in centralized exchanges or unlinked cold wallets could significantly impact the overall outcome of the liquidation process. Moreover, given the recent incidents involving Alameda Research, it serves as a reminder that even well-established firms in this industry can falter, urging even the most ardent crypto supporters to exercise caution and always conduct thorough market research before making any investment decisions. The future of the cryptocurrency market, its technology, and the safety of investments will continue to be a topic of interest and discussion amongst market watchers and enthusiasts alike.
Source: Coingape
