Solana co-founder, Stephen Akridge, is being sued for manipulating and taking tens of millions of {dollars} from his ex-wife’s staking rewards. Elisa Rossi filed the case within the San Francisco Superior Court docket, claiming that Akridge used his technical data of digital belongings and the blockchain to take the earnings from her Solana holdings.
Staking is a well-liked crypto course of the place customers lock their digital belongings to validate transactions in alternate for yields. Rossi additional argued that Akridge operated her staking accounts valued within the tens of millions with out authorization and picked up all rewards.
The case is at present pending within the San Francisco court docket. Akridge faces 5 counts: breach of contract, implied covenant of excellent religion and honest dealing, unjust enrichment, breach of fiduciary obligation, and fraud.
INTEL: Solana co-founder Stephen Akridge faces a lawsuit from ex-wife Elisa Rossi, alleging he stole “tens of millions” from her SOL staking rewards. Claims embody breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and fraud
— Strong Intel 📡 (@solidintel_x) December 28, 2024
Akridge Used His Abilities To Commit Fraud, Ex-Spouse Says
The couple married on March eighth, 2013, when Akridge was working with Qualcomm Inc. After 5 years, Akridge was recruited by a colleague, Anatoly Yakovenko, to start out a crypto firm which grew to become Solana Labs. The couple ended their 10-year marriage by submitting for divorce in February 2023.
Because the founders, they developed the Solana blockchain promise to hurry up transactions and its decentralized association. Rossi claimed that Akridge used his experience within the blockchain to manage her digital asset holdings. Whereas Rossi didn’t establish the overall losses, she claimed the misplaced quantity is “important.”
Within the swimsuit, Rossi claimed that she contacted Akridge, however the defendant refused to reply to a number of inquiries and made it clear that he had no intention of returning the funds. She added that Akridge even laughed in her face, telling her to not anticipate her staking earnings to return.
Solana On The Rise
Rossi’s criticism comes at a time when Solana’s value is beginning to get better. The blockchain has a tough historical past after its launch in 2017. Instantly after its launch, the venture impressed many by way of its proof-of-history consensus mechanism and quick transactions. Solana’s velocity and effectivity made it a competitor to Ethereum, notably in DeFi and NFTs.
Nonetheless, Solana’s rise has been marred by controversy, together with its connections to Sam Bankman-Fried’s Alameda Analysis. On the peak of the FTX controversy, the SOL value dived to $10, nevertheless it has since recovered and is buying and selling above $170 this December. Contemplating SOL’s current value restoration, Rossi’s alleged misplaced staking rewards could be price tens of millions.
So, What Occurs Subsequent To The Akridge-Rossi Rift?
The case is pending on the San Francisco Superior Court docket, and Akridge and even the Solana crew has but to touch upon the problem publicly. Akridge is at present the CEO of Cyber Grant Inc.
Though the case continues to be pending, this difficulty can nonetheless have an effect on Akridge’s standing within the crypto sector.
Featured picture from DALL-E, chart from TradingView