FTX’s Premature Asset Sales: How $4.7B Could Have Become $52.5B Today

TLDR

• During bankruptcy liquidation, FTX divested its 8% Anthropic ownership for $1.3 billion in 2024
• Based on Anthropic’s current $380 billion enterprise value, that identical position now commands approximately $30.4 billion
• The estate liquidated 25–30 million SOL tokens at $64 per unit; Solana currently trades north of $130
• Had the complete investment portfolio remained untouched, its present-day valuation would reach an estimated $52.5 billion
• Total bankruptcy recoveries reached approximately $18 billion, delivering creditors between 118–143% of their filed claims

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Between 2023 and 2025, FTX’s bankruptcy administrators executed a sequence of compulsory asset liquidations. In retrospect, these transactions forfeited tens of billions in unrealized appreciation.

A detailed reconstruction of FTX’s investment holdings prior to its collapse reveals the portfolio’s value could have expanded from approximately $4.7 billion to an estimated $52.5 billion — representing a theoretical appreciation of $47.8 billion — assuming all positions remained intact through the present day.

This analysis originated from crypto researcher Axel Bitblaze’s February 2026 post on X. The data regained significant traction following Anthropic’s ascent to a $380 billion valuation during its most recent capital raise.

The Anthropic Divestiture

In 2021, FTX committed $500 million to Anthropic, securing an 8% ownership position in the artificial intelligence firm. As bankruptcy proceedings advanced, estate administrators liquidated this stake for $1.3 billion in 2024.

Using Anthropic’s present $380 billion market valuation as a benchmark, that identical 8% equity stake would carry a contemporary worth of approximately $30.4 billion. The estate’s recovery represented less than 5% of the position’s eventual market value.

While the transaction accelerated distributions to creditors, it crystallized a shortfall exceeding $29 billion in potential appreciation measured against current valuations.

Premature Exits from Solana and Robinhood Positions

FTX and its affiliated trading entity Alameda Research controlled approximately 58 million SOL tokens. Bankruptcy trustees liquidated between 25 and 30 million locked tokens at $64 apiece during 2024, generating roughly $1.9 billion in proceeds. Solana’s current trading price exceeds $130.

Purchasers included Galaxy Trading and Pantera Capital. When the sale executed, SOL was already trading near $174, meaning acquiring parties immediately captured appreciation that otherwise would have benefited FTX creditors.

In May 2022, Sam Bankman-Fried acquired a 7.6% ownership stake in Robinhood for $648 million at $11.52 per share. Given Robinhood’s current market capitalization approaching $75 billion, that identical holding would now command approximately $5.7 billion.

Additional Portfolio Components: SpaceX, Bitcoin Mining Operations, and Sui

Alameda Research transferred $700 million to K5 Global during 2022. K5’s investment portfolio includes positions in SpaceX, Anduril, and additional companies. Following a January 2025 legal resolution, FTX preserved its interest in K5’s investment vehicles. With SpaceX’s valuation now exceeding $350 billion, this indirect exposure carries an estimated notional value approaching $3 billion.

Alameda additionally deployed $1.15 billion into Bitcoin mining operation Genesis Digital Assets between 2021 and 2022. Genesis Digital’s current estimated enterprise value stands around $3.5 billion, representing approximately a 3x theoretical return.

FTX Ventures spearheaded a $300 million Series B financing for Sui blockchain creator Mysten Labs. The bankruptcy estate divested this position for under $100 million. During SUI’s early 2025 peak above $5, that identical position would have commanded approximately $1.2 billion.

The bankruptcy estate’s total recoveries reached around $18 billion, facilitating creditor repayments ranging from 118% to 143% of petition-date claim values, per FTX CEO John Ray’s statements.

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