Solana Co-Founder Stephen Akridge Sued for Alleged Crypto Theft

In Brief:

Stephen Akridge, Solana co-founder, faces a lawsuit from his ex-wife Elisa Rossi, alleging theft of millions in staking rewards from her digital wallet.

Rossi accuses Akridge of misappropriating funds between March and May 2023 and is seeking damages for breach of contract, fraud, and unjust enrichment.

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Elisa Rossi, the ex-wife of Solana co-founder Stephen Akridge, has filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court, claiming that Akridge misappropriated cryptocurrency staking rewards from her digital wallet. The legal dispute alleges that Akridge exploited Rossi’s lack of technical expertise to redirect SOL staking commissions for personal gain during their separation earlier this year.

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According to the complaint, Akridge allegedly funneled staking rewards from Rossi’s Solana holdings between March and May 2023, depriving her of significant cryptocurrency income. Staking, a process that involves pledging tokens to validate blockchain transactions in exchange for rewards, became the center of this legal battle.

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The lawsuit follows the couple’s divorce filing in February 2023 after ten years of marriage. Rossi is seeking damages under claims of breach of contract, fraud, and unjust enrichment.

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Industry Reactions

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The legal dispute has drawn significant attention from the crypto community. On X (formerly Twitter), influencer Mario Nawfal wrote:

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“DIVORCE GONE CRYPTO: Drama alert! Elisa Rossi says her ex-hubby Stephen Akridge kept millions in Solana staking rewards. The kicker? He allegedly laughed and said, ‘Good luck getting those rewards!’ She’s now taking him to court.”

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This case highlights the growing legal complexities in cryptocurrency as disputes over digital assets become more frequent. In 2024 alone, crypto-related lawsuits have ranged from tax disputes to allegations of market manipulation.

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Solana’s Resilience Amid Legal Drama

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Despite the controversy, Solana (SOL) has maintained strong performance in 2024. Following setbacks tied to FTX’s collapse, Solana rebounded to become the second-largest blockchain by Total Value Locked (TVL) after Ethereum. The altcoin’s price surged over 70% this year, reaching an all-time high of $263 in November.

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Solana’s ecosystem growth, driven by increased transactions and activity around meme coins, continues to bolster its position in the blockchain space.

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