A legal battle has erupted between Solana co-founder Stephen Akridge and his former spouse Elisa Rossi, with allegations of cryptocurrency theft taking center stage. According to a lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court, Rossi claims Akridge misappropriated "millions of dollars" worth of staking rewards from her digital wallet.
The complaint details that Akridge allegedly exploited his advanced blockchain expertise to secretly divert staking earnings from Rossi's accounts between early March and mid-May. Staking allows crypto holders to earn additional tokens by pledging their assets to validate blockchain transactions.
Rossi, who filed for divorce from Akridge in February 2023 after a decade of marriage, maintains that her limited knowledge of cryptocurrency technology made her vulnerable to the alleged misappropriation. While specific amounts remain redacted in court documents at Rossi's request, the disputed sums are described as substantial.
The lawsuit seeks damages for alleged fraud, unjust enrichment, and breach of contract. Both parties' legal representatives and Solana Labs have declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
Akridge, who previously worked at Qualcomm before helping establish Solana alongside Raj Gokal and Anatoly Yakovenko, currently serves as CEO of California-based cybersecurity firm Cyber Grant. The case highlights growing concerns around digital asset management in personal relationships, particularly when technical expertise differs between parties.
The dispute emerges as Solana experiences renewed market strength, having recovered from previous setbacks related to the FTX collapse. Solana's staking ecosystem typically offers annual percentage yields between 5% and 12%, with liquid staking representing approximately half of the platform's total value locked.