Binance Pulls Kevin O’Leary, Michael Lewis Into $1.76B FTX Clawback Lawsuit

Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao have subpoenaed Kevin O’Leary and author Michael Lewis as part of their defense against a $1.76 billion clawback lawsuit tied to FTX’s collapse. The subpoenas target O’Leary, a paid FTX promoter and investor, and Lewis, whose book chronicled Sam Bankman-Fried’s rise and fall, as Binance and Zhao seek evidence beyond FTX’s inner circle. The dispute centers on whether roughly $1.76 billion in transfers made to Binance before FTX’s bankruptcy can be reclaimed by FTX’s estate. Binance and Zhao are pushing back on the clawback claim, arguing the payments were legitimate and that testimony from outside figures can clarify the exchanges’ dealings. What to watch next is how the subpoenaed testimony shapes the clawback case and whether it strengthens Binance’s defense against returning the funds.