Robinhood Stocks Rally as FTX Founder Acquires 7.6 Percent Stake in Crypto-Stock Exchange

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried purchased 56 million Robinhood shares for reportedly $648 million (roughly Rs. 5,013 crore).

By Radhika Parashar | Updated: 13 May 2022 16:22 IST

Photo Credit: Reuters/ Robinhood

Launched in 2013, Robinhood added crypto trading in 2018

Highlights

Bankman-Fried's Emergent Fidelity Technologies bore expense
FTX founder had begun purchasing HOOD stocks in March
Purchase closed earlier this week

The Robinhood crypto-stock exchange is bathing in market bliss after Sam Bankman-Fried, the CEO of crypto exchange FTX, purchased 7.6 percent stake in the company in a deal that reportedly costed the billionaire $648 million (roughly Rs. 5,013 crore). The expense was taken over by Emergent Fidelity Technologies, where Bankman-Fried is the sole director and majority owner. Soon after the deal closed, Robinhood shares soared between 24-30 percent. The development comes days after Robinhood shares had nosedived due to its “corporate conduct”.

Robinhood also confirmed the development on Twitter on Friday, May 13, where it called Bankman-Fried's investment “attractive”.

We're doubling down on creating a multi-generational company where customers can build wealth for their generations.
— Robinhood Comms (@RobinhoodComms) May 12, 2022

Previously a stock trading platform, Robinhood added crypto trading to its service portfolio in 2018. It caught the attention of the FTX founder mid-March when he began purchasing Robinhood stocks. The purchase closed this week, CoinTelegraph said in a report.

The billionaire entrepreneur is not looking to pitch any structural or functional changes to Robinhood, and has backed his decision by calling it a worthy investment.

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The SBF effect: :chart_with_upwards_trend:

Sam Bankman-Fried (@SBF_FTX) just bought a 7.6% stake in #Robinhood for $56 million, and sent it's share price up by more than 30%. :eyes: pic.twitter.com/FHmrkXyrrZ
— Rusty Bill (@Rusty_Bill) May 12, 2022

Back in April, Robinhood shares had plummeted after the company decided to let go of nine percent of its full-time work force.

The company, at the time, backed its decision saying that it was shutting down several duplicated roles and job functions that were generated between 2019 and 2021 when its employee count swelled to 3,800 from 700.

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Despite corporate fluctuations, Robinhood has been accelerating efforts to introduce new crypto-centric products and services.

In January this year, Robinhood released a beta test version of its crypto wallet service for 1,000 waitlisted customers.

In April last year, Robinhood also purchased UK-based crypto firm called Ziglu.

Recently, in its 2022 first quarter report, Robinhood revealed that 18 percent of its net revenue came from crypto-related transactions.

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Further reading: Cryptocurrency, Robinhood, Crypto Trading, Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX

Radhika Parashar

Email Radhika

Radhika Parashar is a senior correspondent for Gadgets 360. She has been reporting on tech and telecom for the last three years now and will be focussing on writing about all things crypto. Besides this, she is a major sitcom nerd and often replies in Chandler Bing and Michael Scott references. For tips or queries you could reach out to her at RadhikaP@ndtv.com. More