FTX customers out up to $2 billion after crypto collapse: reports

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At least $1 billion of customer funds and possibly as much as $2 billion have gone missing in the shocking implosion of the crypto currency exchange FTX, according to reports.

FTX’s flamboyant founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, known in the industry as “SBF,” secretly funneled $10 billion of customer funds into his trading company, Alameda Research, sources told two media outlets.

Alameda Research is run by Bankman-Fried’s girlfriend, Caroline Ellison.

Two senior FTX officials claimed they saw the evidence that the money was missing in copies of financial records Bankman-Fried shared with company executives last week, according to Reuters.

On Friday, Bankman-Friedstepped down from his CEO position as the Bahamas-based FTX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, after scrambling to shore up an $8 billion liquidity crisis that hasleft investors unable to claim their funds.

At the same time, Miami-Dade County and the NBA’s Miami Heat abruptly announced Friday they are re-naming the FTX Arena and ending their relationship with the ruined company and disgraced founder.

Miami-Dade County and the Miami HEAT are immediately taking action to terminate our business relationships with FTX, and we will be working together to find a new naming rights partner for the arena, the county and team wrote in joint statement.

A bid to save FTX via a rescue deal with rival exchange Binance didn’t work out, leading to cryptos highest-profile collapse in recent years.

Sam Bankman-Fried stepped down as CEO on Friday of the Bahamas-based firm. via REUTERS

In text messages to Reuters, Bankman-Fried, one of the largest donors to the Democratic Party, said he “disagreed with the characterization” of the $10 billion transfer.

“We didn’t secretly transfer,” he said. “We had confusing internal labeling and misread it,” he added, without elaborating.

“???” was Bankman-Fried’s response, when asked about the missing cash.

With post wires

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