Cointime

Download App
iOS & Android

Nearly 400,000 FTX users risk losing $2.5 billion in repayments

Nearly 400,000 creditors of the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX risk missing out on $2.5 billion in repayments after failing to begin the mandatory Know Your Customer (KYC) verification process.

Roughly 392,000 FTX creditors have failed to complete or at least take the first steps of the mandatory Know Your Customer verification, according to an April 2 court filing in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

FTX users originally had until March 3 to begin the verification process to collect their claims.

“If a holder of a claim listed on Schedule 1 attached thereto did not commence the KYC submission process with respect to such claim on or prior to March 3, 2025, at 4:00 pm (ET) (the “KYC Commencing Deadline”), 2 such claim shall be disallowed and expunged in its entirety,” the filing states.

  FTX court filing. Source: Bloomberglaw.com

The KYC deadline has been extended to June 1, 2025, giving users another chance to verify their identity and claim eligibility. Those who fail to meet the new deadline may have their claims permanently disqualified.

According to the court documents, claims under $50,000 could account for roughly $655 million in disallowed repayments, while claims over $50,000 could amount to $1.9 billion — bringing the total at-risk funds to more than $2.5 billion.

  FTX court filing, estimated claims. Source: Sunil

The next round of FTX creditor repayments is set for May 30, 2025, with over $11 billion expected to be repaid to creditors with claims of over $50,000.

Under FTX’s recovery plan, 98% of creditors are expected to receive at least 118% of their original claim value in cash.

How FTX users can complete KYC

Many FTX users have reported problems with the KYC process.

However, users who were unable to submit their KYC documentation can resubmit their application and restart the verification process, according to an April 5 X post from Sunil, FTX creditor and Customer Ad-Hoc Committee member.

  FTX KYC portal. Source: Sunil


Impacted users should email FTX support ([email protected]) to receive a ticket number, then log in to the support portal, create an account, and re-upload the necessary KYC documents.

FTX’s Bahamian subsidiary, FTX Digital Markets, processed the first round of repayments in February, distributing $1.2 billion to creditors.

The crypto industry is still recovering from the collapse of FTX and more than 130 subsidiaries launched a series of insolvencies that led to the industry’s longest-ever crypto winter, which saw Bitcoin’s 

BTC$82,784price bottom out at around $16,000.

While not a “market-moving catalyst” in itself, the beginning of the FTX repayments is a positive sign for the maturation of the crypto industry, which may see a “significant portion” reinvested into cryptocurrencies, Alvin Kan, chief operating officer at Bitget Wallet, told Cointelegraph.

Comments

All Comments

Recommended for you

  • Bitcoin miner Core Scientific shifts to AI with 1.5GW data center push

    Core Scientific is converting its Pecos, Texas site into a high-density AI colocation hub, repurposing 300MW of mining capacity.

  • Acting AG Todd Blanche confirms ‘code is not a crime’ in DOJ pivot

    Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said developers will no longer be investigated or charged unless they knowingly help third parties commit crimes.

  • Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda: No Immediate Need for Rate Hike

    On April 28, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda stated that there is currently no immediate need to raise interest rates. However, if the current supply shocks lead to secondary ripple effects, a rate hike may be necessary. (Jin Shi)

  • Central Political Bureau Meeting: Comprehensive Implementation of 'AI+' Initiative to Develop New Intelligent Economy and Improve AI Governance

    On April 28, the Central Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China held a meeting to analyze and study the current economic situation and economic work. The meeting emphasized the need to accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system and maintain a reasonable proportion of manufacturing. It called for deepening the construction of a unified national market and addressing 'involutionary' competition. The meeting also announced the comprehensive implementation of the 'AI+' initiative to develop a new intelligent economy and improve AI governance. Furthermore, it highlighted the need to deepen state-owned enterprise reform, systematically respond to external shocks and challenges, enhance the security of energy and resource guarantees, and address various uncertainties with the certainty of high-quality development. (Dongxin News Agency)

  • ByteDance, Zhiyu, and Alibaba Selected Among Top 10 AI Influencers by TIME

    On April 28, TIME announced its list of the '10 Most Influential AI Companies of 2026.' Unlike a simple comparison of model capabilities, this list emphasizes the comprehensive shaping power of companies in terms of industry, technological pathways, and social impact. The selected companies include ByteDance, Amazon, Zhiyu, OpenAI, Alphabet, Meta, Anthropic, Alibaba, Mistral, and Hugging Face. Among them, three are domestic companies: ByteDance, Zhiyu, and Alibaba. (Dongxin News Agency)

  • Arthur Hayes: More Concerned About Fed Nominee Waller's Comments on Balance Sheet Than Short-Term Interest Rates

    On April 28, BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes spoke about the Federal Reserve at the Bitcoin 2026 conference, stating, "When Kevin Waller was nominated as the Fed's SEC chairman, everyone started to panic because during his tenure as a Fed governor— I believe from the 2008 financial crisis until the current president— he has been very critical of the Fed's massive balance sheet. He has publicly stated that he believes the Fed's balance sheet is too large and that he needs to find ways to shrink it while also being able to lower interest rates. Now, if you have read my articles, you know that I am a firm advocate of the idea that the quantity of money is more important than its price. Therefore, I am more concerned about his comments on the balance sheet than the direction of short-term interest rates. So, if the market believes that due to Waller's actions at the Fed, the liquidity of dollars circulating in the system will decrease, then they will be bearish on Bitcoin and other risk assets. This is the discussion we see in the media about a hawkish Fed emerging after Waller takes over in May. Now, I don't think so. I believe that essentially the Fed will replace reserves, treasury bonds, and repos and put them into the commercial banking system, and they will do this with the help of new regulations concerning how banks hold assets on their balance sheets and how much capital they need to hold against those assets. Finally, I think the most important point to understand about what Waller will or will not do at the Fed is that he has a very substantial hard constraint, which is that he needs to work with Treasury's Scott Bessen to ensure that any actions he takes regarding the Fed's balance sheet do not impair Bessen's ability to sell billions and trillions of dollars in bonds.

  • SEC Chair: Reg GG Crypto to Allow Private Sector Token Sales Soon

    On April 28, U.S. SEC Chair Gary Gensler stated in an interview at the Bitcoin 2026 conference that the agency will continue to advance other exciting initiatives, such as truly allowing companies to conduct on-chain experiments, build tokenized securities, and trade on-chain within the United States. We plan to release innovative exemption regulations in the coming weeks. Additionally, we will permit the private sector to raise funds through on-chain token sales, which we refer to as 'Reg GG Crypto.' These initiatives are in preparation and will be launched soon. Currently, there is a bill titled the 'Clarity Act' under consideration in Congress. We do need Congress to provide regulations in this area. We are ready, willing, and able to explain their regulations and translate them into rules that people can rely on and pursue their innovative ideas. It is important to emphasize that this is happening domestically in the U.S., so they do not have to go overseas. This is the core idea that truly matters here.

  • SEC Chair Discusses Clarity Act: Codified Law Provides Greater Assurance for the Future

    On April 28, during the Bitcoin 2026 Conference, SEC Chair Gary Gensler spoke about the Clarity Act, stating that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has considerable operational flexibility under the regulations. However, we are constrained by existing authorities, which, despite some amendments over the years, fundamentally remain rooted in the framework established in the 1930s. This is why having a piece of legislation is so important; it can shield future developments from adverse impacts, allowing us to leverage new authorities and the flexibility provided by the Act. We can collaborate with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to coordinate and clarify definitions, and further develop from there. But again, nothing provides greater assurance for the future than codified law, coupled with sound judicial opinions that engrave the provisions of the law in stone through the mechanisms of the entire court system. Therefore, all of this is very important, but we are focused on efforts to simplify processes, enhance efficiency, and assist innovators in their endeavors, enabling them to operate with certainty rather than being stifled by those who jealously guard the existing ways of doing things. However, we must ensure that we remain at the forefront of innovation in the United States.

  • Meta Prepares to Withdraw Acquisition of Manus; Investors Including Tencent Plan to Cooperate

    On April 28, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing informed sources, that after the Office of Foreign Investment Security Review under China's National Development and Reform Commission made a legal decision to prohibit foreign investment in the Manus project, Meta is preparing to withdraw from the acquisition deal. According to sources, if Meta proceeds with the withdrawal process, several former Asian investors in Manus, including Tencent, Sequoia China, and ZhenFund, have planned to cooperate.