3AC's Kyle Davies on Why He's Crypto's Lloyd Blankfein and Why He's Not Sorry - Ep. 621
Mar 19, 2024
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Kyle Davies from Three Arrows Capital talks about the firm's collapse, prison sentences in Singapore, consulting work with OPNX, advising OX.FUN, and reflections on the bankruptcy. Highlights include liquidation challenges, legal battles, allegations of fraud, missed opportunities, and innovative crypto platforms.
Facing legal battles and bankruptcy fallout, Kyle Davies remains unapologetic for Three Arrows Capital's demise.
Exploring bankruptcy dynamics and the cyclical nature of businesses in the crypto industry.
Innovative ideas from OX.FUN aim to enhance trading experiences and asset utility in the crypto space.
Deep dives
Implosion of Three Arrows Capital and 3AC's Success in Crypto Arbitrage
Three Arrows Capital, co-founded by Kyle Davies and Sue Jue, saw success in crypto arbitrage, turning $1 million into billions by trading assets like GBTC. However, changing market conditions in 2021 led to losses, worsened by investments in Terra Luna, resulting in 3AC's collapse.
Challenges Faced Post-Collapse and Legal Issues
Post-collapse, Kyle and Sue faced legal battles, including lawsuits from creditors and liquidators seizing assets. They were banned from operating in Singapore’s financial industry, leading to strategic moves to protect assets and navigate ongoing litigation.
Launch of OpenX Crypto Exchange and Controversies
Kyle's involvement in launching OpenX, a crypto bankruptcy claims exchange, faced criticism for alleged involvement in bankruptcies like CoinFlex and misleading announcements of investor partnerships. Debates arose over payments and advisories in the venture.
Response to Media Allegations and Personal Challenges
Kyle responded to media allegations of fraud, wealth concealment, and questionable practices by denying these claims and attributing them to sensationalism. Personal challenges included legal restrictions, frozen assets, and strategic relocation for privacy and safety reasons.
The Different Roots of Bankruptcy and Company Lifecycle
Bankruptcy has different roots, including full liquidation, chapter 11, and founders giving up. Companies like Toys R Us have experienced bankruptcy multiple times but continue to operate. The concept that no company lasts forever is emphasized, highlighting the cyclical nature of businesses.
Innovations at Oxfun and Importance of Multi-Collateral Collaterals
Oxfun is focusing on innovative ideas like provable solvency and multi-collateral collaterals to prevent dollar peg issues. The platform aims to provide a fun and competitive trading experience without charging fees. The introduction of 'prison locking' helps users earn trading fees while having their collateral work for them, enhancing the utility of their assets.
Few crypto figures have been as vilified as Kyle Davies, the co-founder, along with Su Zhu, of crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, which imploded in mid-2022, losing $3 billion and bringing many pillars of the crypto industry down with it. Davies and Zhu have been accused of, among other things, lying about 3AC’s assets as the firm was imploding, trying to borrow money when the firm was insolvent, and seeking funding from the Mafia, all of which Davies denies.
But he remains unapologetic about 3AC’s demise, saying most, if not all, companies eventually go bankrupt, and that 3AC had a “pretty spectacular” ten-year run. He joined Unchained to explain why he and Su Zhu were ordered to prison in Singapore for non-compliance with the liquidation proceedings, Zhu’s “six weeks meditating” (in prison), where he’s living now, why he and Zhu went to Bali after the bankruptcy, his $25,000-a-month fee for consulting for crypto bankruptcy exchange OPNX, his and Zhu’s current work advising crypto derivatives platform OX.FUN, and what he wishes he would have done differently in terms of 3AC’s wind down.
Show highlights:
Whether Kyle is cooperating with 3AC liquidator Teneo and his opinions of that firm
His and 3AC co-founder Su Zhu’s prison sentences in Singapore
Why Kyle says he didn’t know about the scheduled court date
Why Dubai levied fines against him, according to Kyle
Where he is living now
Whether or not he made misrepresentations about 3AC’s assets to lenders before its implosion, traded when the firm was insolvent, and borrowed money from the mafia
Why Kyle went to Bali after the bankruptcy
His defense of his $25,000 a month fee for consulting for OPNX
Why Kyle thinks his reputation post-3AC was still “huge” because all companies eventually go bankrupt
Gamified derivatives platform OX.FUN, where he is an advisor
His dreams of opening a cloud kitchen chicken restaurant
Why he filed a lawsuit against Sixth Man Ventures’ Mike Dudas
What he could have done differently at the time of 3AC’s collapse