The bankruptcy proceedings of cryptocurrency exchange FTX have revealed many new aspects of its unethical practices. The latest revelation around its stake in one of the smallest United States banks from rural Washington has raised fresh concerns about its operations and alleged misuse of banking loopholes.

Farmington State Bank in Washington State, now renamed Moonstone, is the 26th smallest bank in the U.S. with a single branch and three employees. FTX invested in the rural bank through its now-bankrupt sister company Alameda with an investment of $11.5 million in its parent company FBH in March 2022. The Alameda investment was more than double the bank’s value of $5.7 million, reported The New York Times.

The FTX’s ownership in Moonstone is seen as a move to bypass the requirements of owning a banking license in the U.S., which according to many, is quite a complex task.

(By PRASHANT JHA)