Crypto contagion has spread to another project linked to Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) today, with BlockFi announcing a pause on customer withdrawals on its crypto lending platform.
BlockFi’s hand was forced following turmoil in the markets sparked by the collapse of SBF’s crypto exchange FTX (once the second-largest by volume until just this week) and the Alameda Research venture fund.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the company said: “We are shocked and dismayed by the news regarding FTX and Alameda… Given the lack of clarity on the stature of FTX.com, FTX US and Alameda, we are not able to operate business as usual.
“Until there is further clarity, we are limiting platform activity, including pausing client withdrawals as allowed under our Terms.
“We request that clients not deposit to BlockFi Wallet or Interest Accounts at this time.”
— BlockFi (@BlockFi) November 11, 2022
BlockFi was one of SBF’s bailout targets during this year’s first bout of crypto contagion following the collapse of Terraform Labs.
FTX extended a US$250mln line of credit to BlockFi in July with the option to buy the company for a variable US$240mln based on performance triggers.
“We were able to get them to a place where they are really strong from a balance sheet perspective, where they’re able to continue operating full steam ahead with plenty of excess capital for customer assets,” SBF said at the time.
The deal allowed the lender to resume operations following a withdrawal freeze in May, but that credit line has undoubtedly been snapped.
Crypto winter freezes out users
Withdrawal freezes have been a running theme in crypto this year, as liquidity crunches and solvency issues swept across the market.
Billions in customers’ assets remain tied up in the collapsed lending platforms Celsius Network and Voyager Digital (CSE:VYGR, OTCQX:VYGVF), and now FTX and BlockFi.
Customers could face a years-long battle to get their money back.
The last time a major centralised finance platform went broke was in 2014, when Mt Gox, once a leading bitcoin exchange.
Seven years later and Mt Gox customers are on the verge of receiving compensation, albeit at a heavy discount to their original losses.