Just hours after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New Jersey on Monday, cryptocurrency lender BlockFi filed a lawsuit against a holding company by FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried over his shares in trading platform Robinhood, the Financial Times reported.
The suit was filed against Bankman-Fried’s vehicle Emergent Fidelity Technologies, of whom BlockFi is seeking to recover unpaid collateral.
The filing – also lodged in New Jersey – says BlockFi entered into a pledge agreement with Emergent on Nov. 9 stating that an unnamed borrower was obliged to pledge “certain shares of common stock” and has breached the agreement by failing to comply with its payment obligations.
The Financial Times reports the collateral in question is Bankman-Fried’s 7.6% stake in Robinhood which he bought earlier this year.
“Emergent has defaulted on its obligations under the pledge agreement and failed to satisfy its obligations thereunder despite written notice of default and acceleration,” the lawsuit filing says.
The lawsuit also named London-based brokerage ED&F Man Capital Markets for refusing to “transfer the collateral” to BlockFi.
“This is a highly complex matter,” a spokesperson for ED&F Man Capital Markets told MarketWatch in an emailed statement.
“We cannot comment on matters that are subject to legal proceedings but will of course comply with any direction given by the judge,” they added.
On Monday, BlockFi, who was once valued at $3 billion, filed for bankruptcy protection after becoming the latest company to be pushed over the edge from the collapse of crypto exchange FTX.
See also: BlockFi’s big creditors include an indenture trustee firm, FTX and the SEC
The lawsuit is the latest headache for Bankman-Fried, who is already the subject of a number of investigations in the U.S. and the Bahamas – where FTX was based. The downfall of FTX has triggered a chain reaction of crypto-casualties including crypto financial-services firm Genesis.
FTX collapse to be focus of Senate hearing Thursday — here’s what to watch for
BlockFi and representatives of Bankman-Fried did not immediately respond to MarketWatch’s request for comment.
See also: Bitcoin prices under pressure as cracks spread across crypto industry
