Ethereum News Today: FTX Stakes $79M in Ethereum as Creditor Payouts Loom

FTX and Alameda Research have quietly staked approximately 20,736 ETH, valued at around $79 million, in a single hour on Wednesday, according to on-chain analytics firm Lookonchain [1]. This action follows a large-scale withdrawal of 21,650 ETH from Bybit between December 17, 2024, and January 9, 2025, which amounted to roughly $75.3 million at an average price of $3,478 per ETH [1]. The staking move is part of the ongoing liquidation and restructuring process of FTX’s bankruptcy estate, which is expected to distribute nearly $2 billion to creditors in the coming months.

This is not the first major token reallocation by the FTX estate. Earlier this year, in March 2025, the firms unstaked over 3 million SOL, worth approximately $431 million, and transferred around 25,000 SOL (~$3.3 million) to Binance, suggesting a potential liquidation strategy [1]. These actions appear to align with court-approved limits on weekly asset disposals, designed to return value to creditors while minimizing market volatility. The pattern of unstaking and liquidating high-value tokens indicates a clear trend: the FTX estate is shifting towards more liquid or yield-bearing positions ahead of key creditor distributions.

FTX recently announced that its third round of creditor payouts, totaling $1.9 billion, is scheduled for September 30, 2025 [1]. This follows a recent Delaware bankruptcy court decision to reduce the disputed claims reserve from $6.5 billion to $4.3 billion, thereby freeing up additional capital for direct repayment. Notably, creditors from China and certain restricted jurisdictions are expected to be excluded from this distribution, potentially increasing the amount available for other eligible creditors.

The recent Ethereum staking has sparked debate among analysts. Some view it as a strategic move to generate yield while waiting for the scheduled creditor payouts, while others suggest it could be a temporary holding strategy until forced liquidation becomes necessary [1]. Staking locks tokens for an indefinite period, raising questions about whether FTX is delaying sales to benefit from potential market or regulatory improvements. With Ethereum trading around $3,800 in late July 2025 and the broader crypto market approaching a $4 trillion valuation, timing could be a critical factor in maximizing recovery value.

Despite these strategic asset reallocations, millions of creditors remain anxious for transparency and tangible value recovery from their FTX claims. On-chain analysts and legal teams continue to closely monitor wallet movements, as every transaction could carry significant implications for the estate’s restructuring and creditor satisfaction [1]. These actions reflect an evolving approach to asset management in the aftermath of a major crypto collapse, where staking, cross-chain transfers, and centralized exchange transactions are being used as part of a calculated effort to rebuild and distribute value.

With the FTX estate entering the final phase of its bankruptcy process, the crypto community is closely watching each transaction and payout, waiting for signs of resolution and accountability [1].

Source: [1] [FTX Quietly Stakes $79M in Ethereum](https://www.cryptoninjas.net/news/ftx-quietly-stakes-79m-in-ethereum/)