Stephen Akridge Faces Lawsuit From Ex-Wife Over Alleged Misappropriation of Staking Rewards From Her Digital Cryptocurrency Wallet

The couple who have spent ten years as husband and wife filed a petition for divorce in February this year 2023. Litigation began within the Superior Court of San Francisco on assets resulting from Akridge's actions related to establishing Solana, a $90 billion blockchain network.

Stephen Akridge, co-founder of Solana, is being sued by his ex-wife over millions of dollars in cryptocurrency staking rewards.

According to the lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, Akridge used his knowledge of blockchain technology to gain unauthorized access to Rossi's digital cryptocurrency wallet and siphon off the rewards without her consent.

The couple, who were married for 10 years, filed for divorce in February. As part of the divorce proceedings, Rossi claims she is entitled to a share of the Solana tokens that the couple staked to add security to the blockchain and earn rewards in exchange.

However, Rossi alleges that Akridge used his technical savvy to disable her staking accounts, locking her out and preventing her from claiming the rewards. Despite being the owner of the Solana, Akridge is accused of withholding the rewards, which are said to be in the millions of dollars, though an exact amount is not provided.

Rossi, who acknowledges her limited understanding of cryptocurrency, says she made several attempts to contact Akridge about the matter from May to December 2023. However, he allegedly responded with dismissive and hostile remarks each time.

According to Rossi, Akridge once laughed in her face and said, “Good luck getting those staking rewards from me.”

Akridge has not yet responded publicly to the allegations. The case highlights the complexities of digital assets, particularly during divorce settlements. Rossi's lawsuit also underscores how blockchain technology is becoming increasingly relevant to people and legal matters as more people participate in cryptocurrencies.

While the price of Solana has risen and its market capitalization has soared, Akridge's involvement in this particular case may tarnish his standing in society as one of the core figures to benefit from the blockchain's success. A case is building with the blockchain trends of people suing each other and creating litigation due to the involvement of digital currencies and the issues that arise related to the people.