3AC founders just got $1.1bn in assets frozen as Teneo aims to claw back funds

Authorities in the British Virgin Islands issued a worldwide freezing order against crypto hedge fund founder Su Zhu and Kyle Davies this week.

Family affair

The founders of Three Arrows Capital, and Kyle Davies’ wife, are prevented from handling their assets, up to a value of $1.14 billion, Teneo said in a statement shared with DL News.

The freezing order is part of Teneo’s efforts to secure 3AC assets and recover funds from the trio. Teneo is acting as the liquidator for the collapsed crypto hedge fund, which capitulated shortly after the Terra ecosystem collapsed in May 2022.

In September, Su Zhu was arrested in Singapore after he failed to cooperate with Teneo’s liquidation process. Zhu’s time in prison is coming to an end, according to the statement shared by Teneo.

A similar order was also granted against Kyle Davies, although he was never arrested.

This week’s decision, and the inclusion of Davies’ wife, Kelly Chen, marks an escalation in Teneo’s efforts to maximise creditors returns. Outstanding claims against 3AC are in excess of $3 billion.

“The order is specifically designed to prevent the founders and Ms. Kelly Chen from disposing of or otherwise dealing with assets in any way that might frustrate eventual enforcement by the liquidators,” the statement said.

Crypto market movers

• Bitcoin traded above $44,000, up 2.7% since Wednesday.
• Ethereum gained 2.6% to trade around $2,260.

What we’re reading

• Our ‘grey swan’ predictions for 2024: Gensler steps down, Bitcoin soars 60% — DL News
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• Judge Denies Bankman-Fried Bid To Delay Sentencing Process — Milk Road
• YouTube Under Fire For Refusing To Remove Ripple (XRP) Scam — Milk Road

Adam Morgan McCarthy is DL News’ London-based Markets Correspondent. Got a tip? Reach out at adam@dlnews.com.