FTX Bankruptcy Case Costs Almost $1 Billion In Fees: Details

Boluwatife Adeyemi
February 26, 2025
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FTX Begins Second $5 Billion Distribution to Eligible Claim Holders

Highlights

  • Around $948 million has been paid in fees to firms hired to handle the bankruptcy case.
  • FTX's lead firm Sullivan & Cromwell LLP has been paid over $248 million.
  • Financial advisers and FTX's acting CEO John Ray have also received significant sums as fees for their services.

The FTX bankruptcy case has reportedly cost up to $1 billion in fees so far, making the case one of the most expensive bankruptcy cases in America. This comes amid the exchange’s recent move to start repaying customers.

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FTX Bankruptcy Case Costs $1 Billion In Fees

According to a Bloomberg report, the FTX bankruptcy case has cost almost $1 billion in fees, making it one of the costliest bankruptcy cases in America’s history. So far, lawyers have collected around $948 million to work on the Chapter 11 case through January 2. Meanwhile, court records show that the court has approved over $952 million in fees.

This revelation comes following the FTX repayments, which kicked off on February 18. Despite the hefty fees paid for the bankruptcy case, legal experts suggested to Bloomberg that it was worth it, seeing as these lawyers were able to track billions of dollars in digital assets and cash, which the defunct exchange had scattered across several networks of accounts.

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A Breakdown Of The Fees In The Case

The Bloomberg report further gave a breakdown of the fees in the FTX bankruptcy case. The exchange’s lead law firm, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, has received over $248.6 million in legal fees. FTX’s financial adviser Alvarez and Marsal has also received around $306 million, according to the court records.

Meanwhile, advisers representing the defunct exchange’s customers have charged around $110.3 million in fees. John Ray, who took over as the acting CEO in the aftermath of FTX’s collapse, also received a significant sum as his consulting firm charged over $8 million in fees.

The bankruptcy case is still ongoing, as lawyers are still through several of FTX’s entities and accounts in a bid to recover more assets for the exchange’s customers and creditors. There are also a number of ongoing lawsuits related to the bankruptcy case, including one involving the top crypto exchange Binance.

Although FTX’s case is one of the most expensive bankruptcy cases in history, the Lehman Brothers case remains the costliest in America’s history as it cost almost $6 billion in legal fees. The FTX case is also still less expensive than the cost of restricting Puerto Rico’s public debt, which according to Bloomberg, cost over $2 billion.

Meanwhile, as CoinGape reported, the next FTX repayment would happen between April and May. Creditors will receive their repayments through the Kraken and BitGo.

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Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
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Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights Read more…to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

About Author
About Author
Boluwatife Adeyemi is a well-experienced crypto news writer and editor who has covered topics that cut across several niches. His speed and alacrity in covering breaking updates are second to none. He has a knack for simplifying the most technical concepts and making them easy for crypto newbies to understand. Boluwatife is also a lawyer, who holds a law degree from the University of Ibadan. He also holds a certification in Digital Marketing. Away from writing, he is an avid basketball lover, a traveler, and a part-time degen.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.