BlockFi, a prominent cryptocurrency lending platform, is facing significant challenges after its recent bankruptcy filing. A report has emerged suggesting that the company's downfall may have been exacerbated by its own risky lending practices and excessive exposure to FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange. BlockFi's decisions, including disregarding the recommendations of its risk management team and extending substantial loans to Alameda Research, have come under scrutiny. This article delves into the details surrounding BlockFi's decisions and their potential role in the company's bankruptcy filing. #BlockFi
Disregarding Risk Management's Advice:
Allegations have surfaced that Prince, BlockFi's CEO, chose to overlook the concerns expressed by the company's risk management team. In August 2021, despite the team's reservations, BlockFi proceeded to lend a considerable $217 million to Alameda Research, an action that raised red flags. The risk management team specifically warned about the high risks associated with lending assets to Alameda, especially considering the potential liquidation of loans secured by the FTX Token (FTT). The team had discovered that a significant portion of Alameda's balance sheet consisted of unlocked FTT tokens, which raised concerns about potential vulnerabilities. Prince, however, dismissed these worries and encouraged the team to accept Alameda's borrowing size. #FTX
Escalation of Concerns:
Conversations regarding the risks associated with lending to Alameda continued through offline meetings and Slack discussions until January 2022. However, it appears that BlockFi's management disregarded these concerns and maintained its ties with Alameda. In November 2022, when BlockFi filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it acknowledged its substantial exposure to FTX and its associated entities. The relationship between BlockFi and FTX US deepened during the crypto winter in July 2022 when FTX US received a $400 million credit line from BlockFi, further strengthening their financial ties. #Alameda
Continued Lending and Collateralization:
Despite recalling its loans from Alameda in June 2022 and Alameda repaying most of its outstanding balance, BlockFi decided to provide Alameda with additional loans totaling nearly $900 million between July and September 2022. These loans were primarily collateralized using FTT tokens, further increasing BlockFi's exposure to FTX and its associated risks.
BlockFi's Bankruptcy Filing and Response:
BlockFi's bankruptcy filing cited its exposure to FTX as one of the primary reasons for its financial troubles. The collateralized loan practice based on FTT tokens resulted in losses for various firms when the token's price plummeted from over $25 to under $2 during the Chapter 11 filing, creating significant liquidity issues. In response to the report highlighting its questionable practices, BlockFi issued a statement expressing its disagreement and filed a separate court document alleging that the committee behind the report had selectively chosen statements out of context and failed to deliver an objective analysis. #AlamedaResearch
In Summary:
BlockFi's bankruptcy filing has shed light on its risky lending practices and excessive exposure to FTX. Disregarding the recommendations of its risk management team and continuing to extend substantial loans to Alameda Research despite known risks have raised concerns about the company's decision-making. While the downfall of Alameda/FTX may have contributed to BlockFi's demise, the filing underscores that BlockFi's problems were rooted in its own business practices and decisions preceding Alameda/FTX's bankruptcy filing.