Ledn puts in rival bid to acquire ailing lender BlockFi: Bloomberg

Quick Take

  • The proposal rivals an attempt by FTX, the exchange operator, to acquire BlockFi outright.
  • It would involve a funding injection of up to $400 million, according to a Bloomberg report.  

Crypto startup Ledn has reportedly approached rival lender BlockFi about a potential acquisition.

Ledn proposed to lead a funding injection of up to $400 million, with a $50 million equity contribution, according to a report by Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources.

"Given its operational strength, Ledn is currently evaluating a number of opportunities to broaden its leadership in digital asset lending and beyond," Ledn CEO Adam Reeds said in an emailed statement to The Block. "At the moment, we cannot share any additional details."

If accepted, the deal would give Ledn a significant portion of BlockFi, per the report. The report stated that ParaFi Capital, the venture capital firm, would also invest.

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BlockFi has seen its valuation collapse in recent weeks after it emerged that the company had significant exposure to Three Arrows Capital, the troubled hedge fund. BlockFi is already engaged in talks with exchange operator FTX, which The Block revealed is looking acquire the lender outright after handing it a $250 million credit facility in late June.

BlockFi didn't immediately return a request for comment.

Updates with comment from Ledn. 


Disclaimer: The former CEO and majority shareholder of The Block has disclosed a series of loans from former FTX and Alameda founder Sam Bankman-Fried.

© 2023 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

About Author

Ryan Weeks is deals editor at the The Block, focused on fundraising, M&A and institutional trends in the crypto space, among other things. He is particularly interested in investigative work — so please send tips! Ryan previously worked at Financial News, Dow Jones as a fintech correspondent in London. Prior to that, he wrote for several different publications, including Sifted, AltFi and Wired. Beyond journalism, Ryan is a keen reader and writer. He enjoys all things active, especially running, rugby, climbing and tennis.