Elisa Rossi, the ex-wife of Solana co-founder Stephen Akridge, has filed a lawsuit alleging that Akridge misappropriated millions of dollars' worth of staking rewards from her Solana (SOL) tokens. The legal dispute surfaced on December 24 in San Francisco’s Superior Court, where Rossi claimed Akridge profited from her cryptocurrency holdings without her consent.

According to the lawsuit, Akridge leveraged his expertise in blockchain technology to maintain control over Rossi’s tokens, despite their divorce settlement dividing their cryptocurrency assets. Rossi alleges that her Solana wallet was granted authority over specific accounts, but Akridge continued to stake the tokens, reaping rewards until she discovered the situation in May 2024.

The complaint did not specify the exact number of SOL tokens involved, but it mentioned that the misappropriated funds exceeded $25,000. Akridge allegedly dismissed Rossi’s attempts to recover the staking rewards, even mocking her by saying, “good luck getting those staking rewards from me.”

Akridge, who co-founded Solana Labs in 2018 and served as its principal engineer, is now the CEO of cybersecurity company Cyber Grant. He has not responded to requests for comment, and his legal representation has not been identified.

Solana’s blockchain allows users to earn additional SOL through staking, a process where tokens are locked to validate transactions, generating rewards. The lawsuit reflects broader concerns over transparency and control in cryptocurrency dealings, especially in cases where technical knowledge is unevenly distributed among parties.

Rossi’s filing seeks legal remedies for what she described as a significant breach of trust. The case highlights the complexities and vulnerabilities surrounding cryptocurrency ownership, particularly during asset division in personal disputes. Further developments in the case may shed light on the implications for crypto governance and legal accountability.