US Government Misses $4.7 Billion by Selling FTX's Anthropic Shares Prematurely
The US Marshals Service's recent sale of Anthropic shares, seized from former FTX executives Caroline Ellison and Nishad Singh, has resulted in an estimated loss of $4.7 billion for the US government. This sale occurred in 2025, just before Anthropic's valuation tripled within months.
Ellison and Singh had invested $50 million in Anthropic in 2022, but after pleading guilty to charges related to FTX, they lost their stakes. The federal judge finalized the forfeiture orders in early 2025, allowing the Marshals to sell the shares to existing investors in Anthropic. At the time of the sale, Anthropic was valued at $61.5 billion, but by September 2025, its valuation soared to $183 billion.
Market analysts now estimate the forfeited shares could be worth between $2.6 billion and $5 billion. The opaque nature of the sale process has raised concerns, as the details regarding the buyers and the exact sale price remain undisclosed. This situation mirrors previous actions taken by FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who also sold shares prematurely, missing out on substantial gains.
Anthropic's upcoming IPO, anticipated to be one of the largest in US history, has further complicated the market landscape, causing other companies to reconsider their listing timelines to avoid clashing with Anthropic's high-profile debut.
Updated 17:02 UTC
New Developments in Anthropic Lawsuit
Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music have filed a lawsuit against Anthropic, alleging that the company illegally used copyrighted song compositions to train its Claude chatbot. The lawsuit claims that Anthropic engaged in large-scale piracy by downloading copyrighted lyrics and sheet music from piracy sites.
The publishers are seeking damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work and $25,000 per DMCA violation, which could total billions given the number of songs involved. The lawsuit cites iconic songs such as "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough" and "Hallelujah" as examples of the copyrighted material used.
This lawsuit is not Anthropic's first legal challenge; the company previously settled a $1.5 billion case related to similar data practices. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how AI companies acquire and utilize training data, potentially reshaping industry standards.
FAQ
What was the estimated loss for the US government from the sale of Anthropic shares?
The estimated loss for the US government from the sale of Anthropic shares is $4.7 billion.
Who were the former FTX executives involved in the sale of Anthropic shares?
The former FTX executives involved in the sale of Anthropic shares are Caroline Ellison and Nishad Singh.
What was the valuation of Anthropic at the time of the share sale?
At the time of the share sale, Anthropic was valued at $61.5 billion.
How much did Ellison and Singh invest in Anthropic in 2022?
Ellison and Singh invested $50 million in Anthropic in 2022.
What is the anticipated IPO of Anthropic expected to be?
The anticipated IPO of Anthropic is expected to be one of the largest in US history.
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