New emails have surfaced revealing that FTX, the failed US bank, had met with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) months before its collapse. According to reports, the emails suggest that the cryptocurrency exchange was in discussion with the regulator to obtain a federal banking charter. Critics have since accused the FDIC of failing to recognize the warning signs of FTX’s imminent collapse, which has sparked concerns about the potential risks associated with crypto banking. The news highlights the challenges that lie ahead for regulators as they navigate the relatively new and rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrencies.
FTX Sought to Win Influence With FDIC Ahead of Collapse
A watchdog group, Protect the Public’s Trust, has obtained a series of emails that indicate that FTX attempted to gain favor with the FDIC by organizing a meeting with the regulator’s chairman a few months before the exchange’s collapse. FDIC chairman Martin Gruenberg replied that he would be happy to meet with the now-defunct exchange and its CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, in response to an email from FTX.US’ head of policy at the time, Mark Wetjen. Wetjen requested the meeting to pitch the exchange, claiming that he believed FTX had a superior model.
The watchdog group educates the public about potential misconduct by U.S. government officials. FTX was one of the cryptocurrency sector’s largest exchanges before collapsing in November of last year following a multi-day bank run. The company’s executives were later shown to have improperly used customer funds.
On Wednesday of this week, court documents from the ongoing FTX trial revealed that Bankman-Fried and his inner circle received a total of $3.2 billion. The bulk of the payments and loans came from Alameda Research, FTX’s sister company, with Bankman-Fried’s payouts accounting for the vast majority.
Additionally, YouTube influencers were hit with a $1 billion lawsuit for allegedly promoting unregistered securities to viewers in the form of yield-bearing accounts offered by FTX. These developments follow the earlier indictment of Bankman-Fried on wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, with a potential of up to 12 criminal charges.
FTX’s fall from grace serves as a warning to cryptocurrency traders and investors of the importance of vigilance in choosing exchanges and other crypto businesses to trust with their assets. The episode underscores the vital role played by regulators such as the FDIC in mitigating risk by providing oversight over crypto markets. Wetjen’s assertion that the government should regulate exchanges underscores the need for regulatory bodies to keep pace with the rapidly evolving landscape of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.
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