- FTX grew rapidly to become a leading cryptocurrency exchange valued at over $30 billion, but collapsed in November 2022 due to liquidity issues and alleged mishandling of customer funds.
- FTX and founder Sam Bankman-Fried were criticized for undisclosed close ties with Alameda Research, which reportedly misused FTX customer assets.
- The downfall of FTX has damaged trust in the crypto industry and prompted calls for greater regulation of exchanges.
FTX was one of the largest and most well-known cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. Founded in 2019 by Sam Bankman-Fried, the Bahamas-based exchange quickly grew to be valued at over $30 billion. However, in November 2022, FTX dramatically collapsed and filed for bankruptcy due to liquidity issues and alleged mishandling of customer funds. The swift downfall of FTX sent shockwaves through the crypto industry. This is the story of FTX’s rapid growth and catastrophic failure.
The Growth of FTX
Sam Bankman-Fried, known as SBF, launched FTX as a crypto derivatives exchange in 2019. SBF had previously founded the quantitative trading firm Alameda Research in 2017. Alameda would later play a pivotal role in FTX’s operations and downfall.
FTX focused on offering innovative trading products like crypto derivatives and options. The exchange developed a reputation for having a wide variety of altcoins and tokens to trade. FTX’s liquidation engine was also praised for its speed and reliability.
In its first year, FTX brought in $10 million in revenue. The exchange then grew rapidly by acquiring other crypto businesses and investing heavily in marketing and promotions. By 2021, FTX was valued at $25 billion and had over 1 million users.
Behind the Scenes Issues
While FTX was riding high, there were issues brewing behind the scenes. There was an undisclosed close relationship between FTX and Alameda Research. Alameda allegedly used FTX customer funds to make risky trades and loans across the crypto ecosystem.
There were also questions around the FTX token FTT. The token had no utility but was used to provide discounts on trading fees. This created a cycle where FTX bought back FTT to prop up the price.
Collapse of FTX
In early November 2022, concerns over Alameda and FTX’s financials prompted major crypto exchange Binance to sell its FTT holdings. This caused the price of FTT to crash. With FTX experiencing a liquidity crunch, customers rushed to withdraw funds. Unable to meet withdrawal demands, FTX paused operations on November 11, 2022.
SBF tried unsuccessfully to secure rescue financing for FTX. On November 11, 2022, FTX and Alameda Research filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US. FTX owes over $3 billion to its top 50 creditors.
The fallout of FTX is still unfolding but has already led to major losses for crypto investors and damaged trust in the industry. Regulators are ramping up calls for stronger oversight of crypto exchanges.
Conclusion
The rapid collapse of FTX stunned the crypto world. Valued at billions just months earlier, questionable practices and liquidity issues brought down the exchange in dramatic fashion. The repercussions of FTX’s failure are likely to be felt for a long time as regulators and investors try to make sense of what happened. However, it may ultimately lead to needed reforms that help restore trust and stability in the nascent crypto space.
