FTX’s balance sheet shows few liquid assets, leaving users with dim outlook for recovery

  • A breakdown of FTX’s balance sheet shows it had nearly US$9 billion in liabilities and just US$900 million in liquid assets ahead of its bankruptcy filing
  • Most of FTX’s biggest holdings are of lower-profile cryptocurrencies like Serum and Solana that have plunged in value

Representations of cryptocurrencies seen in front of a displayed FTX logo and decreasing stock graph in this illustration taken November 10, 2022. Photo: Reuters

A swift plunge in value of FTX’s key crypto assets, along with unauthorised withdrawals of funds after it filed for bankruptcy, suggests that customers of the once popular exchange face a slim chance of recovering much of their deposits.

A breakdown of the balance sheet of Sam Bankman-Fried’s exchange shared with investors a day before its bankruptcy filing shows that it had nearly US$9 billion in liabilities and US$900 million in liquid assets, US$5.5 billion in “less liquid” assets, and US$3.2 billion in “illiquid” assets, according to sources familiar with the matter who viewed a limited version of information. Most of the biggest holdings, including lower-profile cryptocurrencies Serum, Solana and FTT, have since plunged in value.

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