The defunct FTX exchange has been granted permission by a Federal Court to permanently shield its customers' identities as part of its bankruptcy proceedings.

The ruling follows a two-day hearing in which media outlets and the United States Bankruptcy Trustee opposed FTX's plea to keep customer and creditor names hidden. The decision sets a precedent for customer protection in the event of future bankruptcies, highlighting the balance between transparency and privacy in the cryptocurrency industry. Judge John Dorsey dismissed all arguments against FTX's plea, stating that customer identities are a trade secret and must be protected from criminal actors who may target them.