FTX, which made headlines in crypto history with its bankruptcy proceedings, is entering a new phase in its repayment plan for creditors. The FTX Recovery Trust, which manages the company's bankruptcy proceedings, plans to disburse a total of $2.2 billion in a new distribution round starting at the end of March.
Eyes on March 31st
According to the announcement, payments will begin on March 31st, and eligible creditors will receive their funds within 1 to 3 business days. Distributions will be made through service providers such as BitGo, Kraken, and Payoneer. However, users must complete identity verification (KYC) processes, submit necessary tax documents, and register with their chosen payment provider to receive these payments.
This new payment round will be the fourth major distribution the company has ever undertaken. Since the beginning of the bankruptcy process, over $6 billion has been repaid in total. The latest planned $2.2 billion distribution will contribute significantly to compensating many creditors for their losses.
Creditors are categorized into different classes under the repayment plan. The group referred to as the "convenience class" generally includes individual investors and smaller creditors. A significant portion of users in this group are expected to receive repayments of up to 120% of their asset value at the time of the 2022 crash. This rate presents a rare scenario in bankruptcy proceedings.
There are also notable increases in the "non-convenience" classes, which cover larger and more complex claims. For example, the repayment rate for the Class 5A group, which includes international users, has been increased to 96%. In the Class 5B group, which includes US users, the repayment rate has reached 100%. Similarly, the Class 6A and 6B groups, which cover general unsecured claims and digital asset loans, have also been brought to the 100% repayment level.
FTX management emphasizes that with this distribution plan, many creditors will be considered "fully satisfied." This is seen as a significant sign of recovery after the FTX crash, which created a long period of uncertainty in the crypto sector. On the other hand, one of the most controversial aspects of the process is that repayments are made in US dollars rather than directly in crypto assets. Some users argue that this method is unfair, especially since the price of assets like Bitcoin has increased significantly since the crash. Right now, around $70,000.
As a reminder, the price of Bitcoin fell to around $15,700 when FTX filed for bankruptcy. Today, prices are at much higher levels, leading to criticism that some investors have missed opportunities. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried continues to criticize the bankruptcy process in statements made from prison. Bankman-Fried claims that the company did not actually have to go bankrupt and that mismanagement decisions triggered this process. In addition, the high fees paid to consultants during the bankruptcy process and the low valuations of some asset sales continue to be a subject of debate.
