The ongoing conflict between Fetch.ai and the Ocean Protocol Foundation may soon reach a peaceful resolution, as both sides signal a willingness to settle their differences outside the courts. The dispute, which began after their brief merger under the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance, centers on the alleged sale of millions of FET tokens.
In Brief
- •Fetch.ai proposes a full legal withdrawal if Ocean Protocol returns 286M FET tokens allegedly sold during the ASI merger.
- •Blockchain data links Ocean wallets to $120M in FET transfers, sparking transparency concerns in the crypto community.
- •Ocean Protocol left the ASI Alliance in October, citing ethical and strategic reasons amid ongoing financial scrutiny.
- •ASI token performance plunges 93% from its peak, reflecting investor fear, weak sentiment, and prolonged market pressure.
Ocean Protocol Open to Settlement as Fetch.ai Offers Legal Peace Deal
Fetch.ai announced on Thursday that it is prepared to withdraw all legal claims against the Ocean Protocol Foundation if the latter agrees to return 286 million FET tokens that were reportedly sold during the merger period. CEO of Fetch.ai Humayun Sheikh confirmed the offer during a session on X Spaces, emphasizing the company’s desire to resolve the issue quickly and transparently.
Sheikh stated that Ocean Protocol is awaiting a formal proposal from Fetch.ai for the return of the disputed tokens, adding that the letter would be delivered by the next day. He explained that the offer is straightforward, and all legal claims will be withdrawn once the tokens are returned to the Fetch.ai community.
They are expecting a legal proposal from us for the return of the tokens. You can have my letter tomorrow. The offer is simple: give my community back the tokens. I will drop every legal claim.
Humayun Sheikh
Sheikh also said Fetch.ai would cover the legal costs associated with finalizing the agreement, ensuring a smooth process.
According to GeoStaking, a FET validator node that played a mediating role in the talks, Ocean Protocol is open to returning the tokens once it receives a formal written proposal. Sheikh added that the official offer could be finalized as early as Friday.
If successful, the agreement would mark an important step toward ending a dispute that has drawn significant attention within the crypto community. Both organizations have faced scrutiny and uncertainty since their merger efforts began, and a legal confrontation could further harm their reputations and financial positions.
Blockchain Data Links Ocean Protocol Wallet to Massive FET Token Transfers
This development follows Sheikh’s earlier offer of a $250,000 bounty for information about the individuals controlling OceanDAO’s multisignature wallet and their potential links to the Ocean Protocol Foundation.
Multisignature, or “multisig,” wallets are crypto wallets that require multiple approvals to authorize transactions. Decentralized organizations often use them to enhance security and accountability.
Despite Ocean Protocol’s denial of wrongdoing, blockchain analytics from Bubblemaps suggest that a wallet linked to the foundation converted about 661 million OCEAN tokens into 286 million FET tokens, valued at approximately $120 million at the time. Of those, 160 million FET tokens reportedly went to Binance, while another 109 million were transferred to GSR Markets.
AI Crypto Alliance Faces Headwinds as FET Slides
Ocean Protocol formally withdrew from the ASI Alliance on October 9, offering no explanation regarding the disputed transfers. The alliance, formed in March 2024 by Fetch.ai, SingularityNET, and Ocean Protocol, aimed to combine resources and expertise to advance decentralized artificial intelligence, with FET designated as the alliance’s primary token.
Since the ASI Alliance was formed, the FET token has lost more than 90% of its value, falling from a high of $3.22 to around $0.26.
Current Market Data Highlights the following:
- •Bearish Market Sentiment: Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET) currently shows a bearish outlook, with the Fear & Greed Index at 30, indicating investor caution.
- •Severe Yearly Decline: FET’s price has fallen by 80% over the past year, reflecting sustained downward momentum.
- •Underperformance Against Peers: The token has underperformed all top 100 crypto assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, over the same period.
- •Technical Weakness: FET continues to trade below its 200-day simple moving average, signaling prolonged bearish pressure.
- •Low Market Strength: The token recorded only 10 positive trading days in the past month (33%) and remains 93% below its all-time high.
Ocean Protocol founder Bruce Pon explained that the price decline was not due to Ocean’s exit but instead to broader market conditions and liquidity pressures involving Fetch.ai and SingularityNET.
Pon said Ocean Protocol left the ASI Alliance for ethical and strategic reasons and plans to release a detailed response to the recent allegations. As negotiations progress, both sides appear motivated to resolve their differences, signaling a possible end to one of the most publicized disputes in the AI-focused crypto sector.