False Rumors of Reimbursements and Upcoming Court Hearing
The FTX bankruptcy estate, dealing with claims exceeding $11 billion, is preparing for a critical court hearing as part of its Chapter 11 restructuring process. Recently, rumors spread on social media suggesting that FTX would begin reimbursing creditors and customers by September 30. However, these claims are unfounded, as no reimbursement plan has been approved by the court.
According to official documents, the next hearing to confirm the proposed plan is scheduled for October 7, with Judge John T. Dorsey of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware overseeing the case. If approved, smaller claimants—those with claims under $50,000—could begin receiving payments before the end of 2024. Larger claims, however, may take longer to settle, with distributions expected in early 2025.
Dispute Over Payment Methods and Potential Market Impact
There is ongoing disagreement among FTX creditors about how reimbursements should be distributed. Sunil Kavuri, representing a group of creditors, has voiced concerns about the current plan. He argues that creditors should be compensated with in-kind assets, such as cryptocurrencies, instead of cash. The concern is that cash payments may create taxable events, which would reduce the value of reimbursements. Many creditors believe in-kind distributions are a fairer option, allowing them to recover more of what they initially lost.
However, FTX’s legal team insists that any payouts must be made in cash to comply with Chapter 11 bankruptcy laws. They argue that this approach is the most straightforward way to avoid complications and ensure the process runs smoothly. The current plan also dictates that creditors will be reimbursed based on asset prices at the time the legal petition was filed. At that point, Bitcoin was valued at about $16,000, which means creditors may only recover roughly 25% of their original holdings.
Some market analysts, including Markus Thielen from 10x Research, believe that the FTX payout could boost the cryptocurrency market. Thielen has suggested that if the plan moves forward, it could inject between $5 billion and $8 billion into the market, potentially driving prices higher due to increased demand.
In the weeks leading up to the court hearing, tensions remain high as creditors continue to debate the best path forward. The outcome of the October 7 hearing could have significant implications for both FTX creditors and the wider cryptocurrency market.