The recent collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX has sent shockwaves through the crypto community. Investigations have uncovered suspicious transactions worth billions of dollars in FTT tokens between FTX and its sister company, Alameda Research. These revelations have raised serious concerns about the two entities’ relationship and influence over the FTT token supply.
- Alameda held $14.6B in FTT tokens, 40% of assets.
- FTX held 80% of the total FTT token supply of 350M.
- The FTT vesting contract made Alameda the sole beneficiary.
Alameda’s massive FTT holdings set off alarm bells
In September 2022, it came to light that Alameda held an alarming $14.6 billion worth of FTT tokens on its balance sheet. This amounted to a staggering 40% of the company’s total assets. Moreover, between September 28 and November 1, a transfer of a whopping $4.1 billion in FTT tokens from Alameda to FTX was executed. Additionally, Cointelegraph reported significant transfers of stablecoins pegged to the US dollar, totaling $388 million.
These enormous FTT holdings and transactions immediately set off alarm bells about Alameda’s dependence on the FTT token. It also raised questions about the professionalism of FTX’s operations.
FTX’s tight grip over global FTT supply
Investigations have revealed FTX’s dominance over the circulating supply of FTT tokens. FTX held approximately 280 million FTT tokens – a substantial 80% of the total FTT supply of 350 million. Furthermore, multiple wallets controlled by FTX and Alameda frequently shuffled around billions in FTT tokens between themselves. This highlighted the interconnected nature of the two companies and their collective stranglehold over the FTT token supply.
A report by Nansen provided more clarity on this arrangement. Many FTT tokens, including company and unsold non-company tokens, were locked in a three-year vesting contract. Notably, the sole beneficiary of this contract was a wallet controlled by Alameda. This contract effectively gave both companies the power to benefit financially from the FTT token.
The Aftermath – A blow to trust in the Crypto sector
The crypto ecosystem is built on transparency and trust. However, the actions of FTX and Alameda have severely damaged faith in the impartiality of key players in the market. The massive FTT transactions between the sister entities and the subsequent collapse of FTX have raised difficult questions. How could such a concentration of control over a token’s supply be allowed? As the saga unfolds, the crypto community seeks accountability and is pressing for mechanisms that uphold fairness and transparency.
The downfall of FTX serves as a stern reminder – without checks and balances, greed and mismanagement can destabilize even the biggest names in crypto. This must spur the community to unite and institute systems that prevent any single company from attaining excessive influence in the future. Only by learning from such failures can trust be restored in this ever-evolving sector.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. The article does not offer sufficient information to make investment decisions, nor does it constitute an offer, recommendation, or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument. The content is opinion of the author and does not reflect any view or suggestion or any kind of advise from CryptoNewsBytes.com. The author declares he does not hold any of the above mentioned tokens or received any incentive from the company
