News

$190 Million Solana Held By FalconX Raises Concerns Over Token Control

$190 Million Solana Held By FalconX Ownership Confirmed By Binance

Key Points:

FalconX, a prime cryptocurrency broker, failed to track 1.35 million Solana (SOL) tokens, worth around $190 million, since 2021.
Binance discovered the oversight and claimed ownership of Solana held by FalconX, requesting their return.

FalconX, a cryptocurrency market prime broker, has been criticized for failing to account for 1.35 million Solana tokens estimated at up to $190 million.

Solana Held By FalconX Not Verified Since 2021

According to a CoinDesk report, it has been doing so since 2021, raising questions about the internal controls and accounting practices of crypto brokerage firms. The Solana held by FalconX has thrown up industry-wide scepticism over the reliability of these firms’ accounting systems.

That came to light when Binance, one of FalconX’s key liquidity partners, claimed ownership of the untracked SOL tokens and requested their return. Why FalconX failed to track those assets or why Binance hadn’t noticed such an oversight on its part is anybody’s guess.

Resolution Achieved: SOL Tokens Returned to Binance

Confirmation of attendance by the crypto brokerage firm did point out the existence of a “reconciliation anomaly” with respect to the Solana held by FalconX. The firm claimed to have reconciled accounts with all exchanges, clients, and partners, but no trace of transactions could be detected. In the oversight, though, Binance said its customers held no risk of losing any money, adding that it would have taken all the losses in case the tokens were not accounted for.

In normal proceedings, a prime broker like FalconX would borrow the assets under custody to create value across a variety of financial activities, from collateral use to loans and even arbitrage opportunities. FalconX, however, explained that the subject SOL tokens were merely in custody and not used in any manner for profits.

Following questions from CoinDesk about the situation, FalconX and Binance issued a joint statement to confirm that the SOL tokens had been returned and the matter was now resolved. In a statement, the firm assured business was back to normal and unhindered by the recent controversy.

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Harold

With a passion for untangling the complexities of the financial world, I've spent over four years in financial journalism, covering everything from traditional equities to the cutting edge of venture capital. "The financial markets are a fascinating puzzle," I often say, "and I love helping people make sense of them." That's what drives me to bring clear and insightful financial journalism to the readers of Coincu.