- Stephen Akridge is being sued by his ex-wife, Elisa Rossi, for allegedly stealing millions in staking rewards from her Solana crypto wallet.
- Rossi claims Akridge used his blockchain expertise to secretly access her staking accounts and withhold rewards without her consent.
- The lawsuit sheds light on the complexities of managing digital assets in the crypto world and the personal conflicts they can lead to.
Solana Co-Founder Accused of Stealing Staking Rewards
The Solana co-founder Stephen Akridge has been dragged into a court case filed by his ex-wife, Elisa Rossi. According to her, he stole millions of dollars worth of staking rewards from her wallet of cryptocurrencies. She states that Akridge made use of his knowledge of the blockchain to sneak access into her accounts without informing her to take away all rewards coming from her holdings of Solana.
Rossi and Akridge were married for ten years before filing for divorce in February 2023. According to the lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court. The couple had made a lot of money, much of which was tied to Akridge’s role in creating Solana, valued at $90 billion. Rossi was entitled to a portion of the couple’s Solana tokens as part of the divorce settlement. These tokens were staked and locked to secure the blockchain and earn rewards.
Rossi Claims Akridge Used His Blockchain Skills to Take Her Rewards
The lawsuit details how Akridge allegedly used his technical knowledge to take hold of Rossi’s staking rewards. Although allowing her to maintain control of her share of Solana. He withheld the staking rewards from her amounting to millions, she alleges. The sum is not specified in the lawsuit, but according to the documents, the sum described is “substantial.”
Rossi further accuses Akridge of operating her staking accounts without her permission. That effectively pocketing the rewards. Akridge’s technical prowess, particularly in blockchain and crypto, is said to have played a crucial role in carrying out the alleged theft. Rossi admits to having limited knowledge of cryptocurrencies and felt vulnerable in the face of Akridge’s deep understanding of the blockchain.
There’s a personal element of Rossio’s complaint when it brings up the emotional harm resulting from the situation. The plaintiff contacted Akridge consistently from May through December in 2023. Still, “At one point, Akridge allegedly laughed in her face,” reads a filing detailing part of the lawsuit. “Good luck getting those staking rewards from me,” she quoted him as saying in it.
Although Akridge has not spoken publicly about the issue. This lawsuit has brought to the public eye the possibility of financial disputes in the crypto world, especially as more people become involved with digital assets. Rossi’s case highlights how the complexities of blockchain technology can sometimes lead to personal and legal conflicts.
Solana’s price has increased, increasing its market value. But this lawsuit may mark Akridge’s reputation as one of the blockchain’s key builders. It also reflects a larger trend in the crypto industry, where personal conflicts and the complexity of managing digital assets overlap with legal and financial disputes.
