In a significant development within the cryptocurrency legal landscape, a group of FTX users has proposed dropping their lawsuit against former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. This decision comes as part of a strategic shift to focus on pursuing claims against the influencers who promoted the now-defunct exchange.
Shift in Legal Strategy
The proposed settlement, which is pending court approval, was revealed in a recent filing with the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. This move marks a pivotal change in the plaintiffs’ strategy, as they now aim to leverage information from Bankman-Fried’s criminal trial to strengthen their case against other defendants involved in promoting FTX. The plaintiffs believe that Bankman-Fried possesses crucial knowledge and information that could prove invaluable in their ongoing litigation against various FTX promoters.
Details of the Settlement
According to the court documents dated April 19, the plaintiffs decided to propose the settlement recognizing the potential duration and expense of continuing litigation against Bankman-Fried. The settlement would effectively end the lawsuit between the crypto users and Bankman-Fried, who was recently sentenced to 25 years in prison on felony charges. In exchange, Bankman-Fried would assist the class representatives by providing documentation and testimony, which could be crucial in prosecuting other involved parties, including high-profile celebrities and sports figures who endorsed FTX.
Background and Implications
This lawsuit was initially filed in November 2022 following FTX’s bankruptcy and was consolidated in June 2023. It is spearheaded by the Moskowitz Law Firm, known for handling numerous class-action lawsuits within the cryptocurrency sector. The legal focus shifting towards influencers highlights the growing scrutiny over the roles that prominent figures play in endorsing financial products and the responsibilities they may hold in the events of a platform’s failure.
Bankman-Fried’s legal team has filed for an appeal against his conviction and sentence and requested that he remain in a Brooklyn detention center to facilitate his ongoing defense efforts.
This settlement proposal could set a precedent in how legal actions are handled in the cryptocurrency industry, particularly concerning the accountability of influential promoters in high-profile collapses.
