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Bahamas regulator denies asking crypto exchange FTX to mint new tokens

Bahamas regulator fights back against being ‘publicly challenged’ by FTX against incorrect calculations of digital assets transferred under its control

The Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) has denied FTX debtors’ claims and expresses concern that the investigation has been ‘impeded.’

According to a statement released on Jan.3, The Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) has had to correct material misstatements made by John J. Ray III, the representative of the United States-based FTX debtors, in press and court filings.

The document stated that the Chapter 11 Debtors had “publicly challenged” the Commissions calculations of digital assets transferred to digital wallets under the Commission's control in Nov. 2022.

It argued that these statements were based on “incomplete” information and the debtors did not do due diligence by requesting information from the Joint Provisional Liquidators.

The statement added that the FTX CEO John J. Ray III made public statements alleging that the Commission instructed FTX to “mint a substantial amount of new tokens” under “oath” during a court filing before the U.S. House of Financial Services Committee.

The Chapter 11 Debtors have also alleged that the digital assets controlled by the Commission in the trust of FTX customers and creditors were “stolen,” without providing any substantiated bases for these claims.

The Commission shared concern that its investigation is being compromised by the Chapter 11 Debtors’ refusal to allow the Court Supervised Joint Provisional Liquidators access to FTX’s AWS System.

The SCB is hoping that the Chapter 11 Debtors will proceed with matters in good faith and in the best interest of customers and creditors of FTX, the announcement reads.

Related: FTX ordered to pay reimbursement fees to Bahamian regulators

The Bahamian securities regulator’s announcement comes after news from court filings in December 2022, where FTX lawyers claimed the Bahamas government reportedly requested that the former CEO of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), issue a new cryptocurrency controlled by local officials.

The initial reports claimed that the Bahamas regulator asked SBF to mint new digital assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

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FTX Bahamas co-CEO Ryan Salame blew the whistle on FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried

Court filings show Ryan Salame tipped off the Bahaman securities regulator, telling them that FTX was sending customer funds to Alameda Research.

According to Bahamian court records filed on Dec. 14, Ryan Salame, the former co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets told the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB) on Nov. 9 that FTX was sending customer funds to its sister trading firm Alameda Research.

He also told the SCB only three people had the access required to transfer client assets to Alameda: Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX co-founder Zixiao “Gary” Wang and FTX engineer Nishad Singh.

The allegation spurred SCB executive director Christina Rolle to contact the commissioner of the Royal Bahamas Police Force to request an investigation.

Related: Realized losses from FTX collapse peaked at $9B, far below earlier crises

The records reveal the first known instance of an executive from FTX or Alameda assisting authorities.

Speculation abounded on Dec. 4 as pictures purported to show Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison in a New York coffee shop a short walk away from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, leading some to believe she may have been cutting a deal with authorities in the wake of the FTX collapse.

A high-ranking executive at FTX’s Bahamian entity tipped off local regulators of potential fraud perpetrated at the cryptocurrency exchange just two days before the exchange was forced to close.

This story is developing and more information will be added as it becomes available.

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