FTX’s $12 Billion AI Windfall: The Missed Anthropic Opportunity

Sam Bankman-Fried's collapsed crypto exchange FTX reportedly missed out on a staggering $12 billion profit from its early investment in AI startup Anthropic, which now seeks Middle Eastern funding at a $150 billion valuation—a massive surge from its $61.5 billion valuation earlier in 2025. FTX's $500 million investment in 2021 had secured an 8% stake, positioning it for a historic return had it not collapsed. This revelation underscores the explosive growth of AI valuations and the untapped potential within FTX's failed venture portfolio.

FTX's Missed $12 Billion Opportunity in Anthropic AI Investment

Sam Bankman-Fried's defunct crypto exchange FTX could have realized a $12 billion windfall from its early investment in artificial intelligence startup Anthropic, according to Financial Times reports. The AI firm is now seeking Middle Eastern funding at a staggering $150 billion valuation—a dramatic leap from its $61.5 billion valuation earlier this year.

FTX's $500 million investment in 2021 secured an 8% stake when Anthropic was valued at $2.5 billion. The bankrupt exchange sold this position for $1.4 billion during liquidation proceedings last year, missing the tenfold appreciation that WOULD have substantially benefited creditors. Abu Dhabi's MGX and other tech-focused investors are now circling Anthropic as it aims to raise $3-$5 billion in what could become one of AI's largest funding rounds.

The revelation comes as FTX disburses nearly $5 billion to creditors in its May 30 repayment distribution. Anthropic's meteoric rise underscores how the exchange's collapse transformed what could have been a generational investment into a cautionary tale about premature liquidation during market turmoil.

Anthropic Eyes $150 Billion Valuation in $5 Billion Middle East Funding Talks

Anthropic is negotiating a monumental funding round that could propel its valuation to $150 billion, more than doubling its current $61.5 billion mark. The AI startup aims to secure $3 billion to $5 billion from Middle Eastern investors, including Abu Dhabi's MGX fund, as it battles rivals like OpenAI and xAI in the generative AI arms race.

Ethical concerns surface as CEO Dario Amodei questions accepting capital from authoritarian-linked entities. The potential deal follows a $500 million share purchase by another Abu Dhabi fund from FTX's collapsed assets, highlighting the region's aggressive tech investment strategy.