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Alameda Research

Alameda Research was a cryptocurrency trading firm founded in 2017 by Sam Bankman-Fried and Tara Mac Aulay.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Alameda Research was a cryptocurrency trading firm founded in 2017 by Sam Bankman-Fried and Tara Mac Aulay. It became closely associated with the FTX cryptocurrency exchange and collapsed in 2022, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy alongside FTX amid a broader solvency crisis.

History

Alameda Research was established in 2017 and grew quickly during the expansion of cryptocurrency markets. Sources describe it as a Hong Kong-based trading firm focused on quantitative and proprietary crypto trading.

Business activities

The firm’s activities included cryptocurrency trading, arbitrage, market making, and liquidity provision. It also made investments in digital asset businesses and was described as an active participant in both centralized and decentralized crypto markets.

Connection to FTX

Alameda Research was closely linked to FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange founded by Sam Bankman-Fried. The relationship between the two entities later became central to the 2022 collapse of both firms.

Collapse and bankruptcy

In November 2022, Alameda Research and FTX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after a solvency crisis. The collapse led to major legal and regulatory scrutiny of the companies and their executives.

Key facts

  • Alameda Research was a quantitative cryptocurrency trading firm founded in 2017 by Sam Bankman-Fried and Tara Mac Aulay.
  • The firm operated in trading, market making, arbitrage, and liquidity provision.
  • Alameda became closely tied to FTX, which was founded separately by Sam Bankman-Fried.
  • In November 2022, Alameda Research and FTX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • The company became one of the most prominent names in the crypto sector before its collapse.
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Canadian context

Alameda Research had limited direct Canada-specific significance, but its collapse affected global cryptocurrency markets and increased scrutiny of crypto firms that also matters to Canadian investors and regulators.

Frequently asked questions

What was Alameda Research?
Alameda Research was a cryptocurrency trading firm that used quantitative and proprietary trading strategies.
Who founded Alameda Research?
It was founded by Sam Bankman-Fried and Tara Mac Aulay in 2017.
Where was Alameda Research based?
Sources describe it as being based in Hong Kong.
How was Alameda Research connected to FTX?
Alameda Research was closely associated with FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange founded by Sam Bankman-Fried.
What happened to Alameda Research in 2022?
Alameda Research filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2022 alongside FTX.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alameda_Research
    Supports: Founding date, founders, industry, and bankruptcy filing.
  2. IQ.wiki — https://iq.wiki/wiki/alameda-research
    Supports: Cryptocurrency trading firm, liquidity provider, and Chapter 11 filing.
  3. Fortune — https://fortune.com/2022/11/13/sam-bankman-fried-alameda-research-who-is-caroline-ellison/
    Supports: Description of Alameda as a quantitative trading firm and its collapse with FTX.
  4. PitchBook — https://pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/436798-54
    Supports: Hong Kong headquarters, founding year, and investment/trading profile.