Three Arrows Sues TerraForm for $1.3 Billion

Three Arrows Capital (3AC), a collapsed cryptocurrency hedge fund, has filed a $1.3 billion lawsuit against TerraForm Labs, claiming that market manipulation led to significant losses during the LUNA and TerraUSD crash. This legal action is part of ongoing efforts to recover money for Three Arrows’ creditors following its bankruptcy.

Three Arrows alleges that TerraForm Labs manipulated the market, inflating the prices of LUNA and TerraUSD. This manipulation allegedly induced Three Arrows to invest in these tokens, leading to severe financial losses when the market crashed in 2022. According to a court document cited by Bloomberg, these actions drastically impacted the value of Three Arrows’ digital assets.

In April 2022, Three Arrows held approximately $462 million worth of LUNA. However, after a massive sell-off of TerraUSD, this value fell to just over $2,700 by mid-May. The lawsuit claims TerraForm's manipulation was directly responsible for this catastrophic decline.

Once a major player in the crypto hedge fund sector, Three Arrows Capital collapsed soon after the LUNA crash. A British Virgin Islands court appointed liquidators from Teneo to help recover assets for the fund’s creditors. This lawsuit against TerraForm is one of several actions by the liquidators, who are also pursuing claims against 3AC’s founders, Su Zhu and Kyle Davies.

The lawsuit’s outcome is uncertain, particularly because of legal complexities involving TerraForm Labs and its co-founder, Do Kwon. After the crash, Do Kwon was arrested in Montenegro and faces charges in both the US and South Korea. A Montenegro court ruled he should be extradited to South Korea, but this decision has faced multiple delays.

On August 8, Montenegro’s Supreme Court postponed Kwon’s extradition at the request of Minister of Justice Andrej Milović. This delay adds to the ongoing legal drama involving Kwon and TerraForm Labs, making the lawsuit’s potential outcomes unclear. This case underscores the risks of cryptocurrency investments and the potential for market manipulation. The collapse of LUNA and TerraUSD is a warning to investors about the need for oversight and transparency in the crypto industry.

The lawsuit against TerraForm Labs is closely watched and could set important precedents for legal accountability in the crypto space. As the case proceeds, it may influence how similar situations are handled and shape regulatory measures to prevent future market manipulation.

The lawsuit filed by Three Arrows Capital against TerraForm Labs presents a major legal challenge with potential implications for the crypto industry. As the proceedings continue, the focus remains on whether the liquidators can recover funds for 3AC’s creditors. The outcome will be crucial in determining the accountability of those involved in the LUNA crash and may influence future regulations in the cryptocurrency market. Investors and stakeholders are closely watching for developments that could impact the future of digital finance.