Solana Co-Founder Sued by Ex-Wife Over Alleged Theft of Millions in Staking Reward

Stephen Akridge, co-founder of Solana, is being sued by his ex-wife, Elisa Rossi, who claims he misappropriated millions in cryptocurrency from her wallet.

The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, accuses Akridge of using Rossi’s lack of technical knowledge to redirect her Solana staking rewards for his own benefit between March and May 2023.

Rossi, who divorced Akridge in February 2023 after ten years of marriage, seeks damages for breach of contract, fraud, and unjust enrichment.

Akridge, a former Qualcomm engineer, co-founded Solana with Anatoly Yakovenko and Raj Gokal. The case has drawn attention after Akridge reportedly dismissed Rossi’s efforts to reclaim the funds.

This legal battle adds to growing crypto-related disputes, with notable cases including Joshua Jarrett’s lawsuit against the IRS over staking income tax and the high-profile FTX collapse.

Despite these challenges, Solana’s value rebounded strongly in 2024, increasing by over 70%.