FTX Faces Backlash Over Proposed Repayment Plan Despite Promising Full Repayment Plus Interest

• FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange that went bankrupt in 2022, has proposed a repayment plan for its creditors.
• The plan involves raising between $14.5 billion and $16.3 billion from selling off assets to repay creditors.
• Despite the promise of full repayment plus interest, the plan has sparked backlash among creditors.

FTX’s proposed repayment plan promises full repayment plus interest to creditors, but the lack of cryptocurrency return has sparked controversy. This article delves into the details of the plan and the reasons behind the backlash.

The Repayment Plan

FTX’s plan involves raising between $14.5 billion and $16.3 billion from selling off assets to repay creditors. Under this plan, creditors will receive $11.2 billion, resulting in a payout of up to 118% of the value of their FTX accounts as of November 2022, to compensate for the time value of their investments. The funds to repay users will come from monetizing a collection of assets, including cryptocurrency held by the platform, proprietary investments held by Alameda or FTX Ventures businesses, and litigation claims.

Creditors’ Backlash

Despite the promise of full repayment plus interest, creditors are not satisfied with the plan. The main issue is that they will not receive their crypto back. Instead, they will receive US dollars based on the value of their accounts at the time of FTX’s bankruptcy in November 2022. This means that creditors will not benefit from the surge in Bitcoin’s value, instead receiving a 9% interest rate. The backlash stems from the perception that this interest rate does not adequately compensate for the true value of the assets lost.

When Will Repayments Be Issued?

FTX has indicated that repayments could be issued later this year. However, resistance from creditors may impede the process. Over 80 creditors have filed letters with the bankruptcy court, criticizing decisions made by FTX CEO John Ray, particularly the methodology used to determine account values. A group of creditors sued FTX in bankruptcy court, arguing that their crypto was not a property that FTX could sell. The judge overseeing the FTX Chapter 11 case will likely need to resolve this lawsuit before any payouts can be made to customers.

Conclusion

The success of FTX’s repayment plan ultimately hinges on resolving the legal dispute and the overall direction of the cryptocurrency industry. Despite the promise of full repayment plus interest, the lack of cryptocurrency return has sparked controversy among creditors. The outcome of this legal battle will determine the fate of the FTX repayment plan and the financial recovery for its former customers.