Fetch.ai filed a lawsuit against Ocean Protocol on November 4, 2025, in the Southern District of New York, alleging misuse of community funds and unauthorized token trades.
The lawsuit potentially disrupts AI blockchain alliances, affecting token trust and community governance, with noticeable FET market volatility since the complaint filing.
Introduction
Fetch.ai lawsuit against Ocean Protocol highlights a significant rift in the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance. Filed on November 4, 2025, it accuses Ocean Protocol of misusing DAO funds and impacting the FET token price.
Fetch.ai, led by CEO Humayun Sheikh, accuses Ocean Protocol, co-founded by Bruce Pon and Trent McConaghy, of converting community tokens without authorization. This action allegedly devalued the FET token, challenging governance models.
Market Impact and Governance Challenges
The lawsuit's immediate effects are notable for the cryptocurrency markets, specifically affecting FET and OCEAN tokens. Conflicts in governance approaches and token management strategies have gained industry attention.
The financial implications include the release of 263 million FET into the market, representing over 10% of its circulation. Existing funding channels for both networks remain uncertain, pending further transparency and official responses.
Response and Future Speculations
Bruce Pon cited “legal and governance differences” for Ocean's exit from the ASI Alliance. Ocean Protocol dismissed the lawsuit as “exaggerated” in social media but issued no formal statement as of this writing.
Industry watchers speculate on possible regulatory actions, further legal challenges, or governance reform within involved networks. Past disputes like The DAO hack in 2016 have shown the potential for significant volatility and trust erosion.
Statements and Interpretations
Humayun Sheikh, CEO of Fetch.ai, stated, "Ocean misrepresented that hundreds of millions of OCEAN tokens would be reserved for DAO rewards, but instead converted and sold those tokens after joining the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance, thereby depressing the value of FET and undermining the DAO’s stated governance model."