Binance and its former CEO, Changpeng Zhao, filed a motion to dismiss FTXâs lawsuit worth $1.76 billion.
The crypto industry continues to feel the effects of the FTX collapse. In a court filing in Delaware dated May 16, Binance and associated entities sought to dismiss the lawsuit brought against them by FTXâs bankruptcy lawyers. Binance cited a lack of jurisdiction and claimed that FTX alone was responsible for its collapse.
The lawsuit, initiated by the FTX Recovery Trust, aims to recover $1.76 billion in assets FTX paid in July 2021 to repurchase equity from Binance. At the time, Binance was one of FTXâs largest investors but later chose to divest from the exchange. In its filing, Binance argued that these funds should be protected in bankruptcy under the âsafe harborâ clause, as the transaction involved a securities contract.
The FTX Recovery Trust also alleged that then-Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao contributed to a bank run on FTX through social media posts, which it described as part of a âcampaign to destroy FTX.â In response, Binance said the posts were truthful and claimed any suggestion of malicious intent was speculative.
âOf course, Plaintiffsâ only support for this theory is pure conjectureâmuch of it sourced from a convicted fraudsterâs hindsight speculation,â Binanceâs court filing about Changpeng Zhaoâs alleged attempt to destroy FTX.
Binanceâs primary argument rests on the courtâs lack of jurisdiction. The exchange noted that all three FTX entities involved are based outside the U.S., specifically in the Cayman Islands and Ireland. Furthermore, Binance contends that these entities were not parties to the repurchase agreements in question.
The filing also asserts that the responsibility for FTXâs downfall lies with its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried. Binance pointed out that the lawsuit itself highlights âpervasive malfeasance,â âongoing fraud,â and misrepresentation by FTX leadership.