Sam Bankman-Fried

Sam Bankman-Fried, once a pivotal figure in the cryptocurrency industry, was convicted in November 2023 of committing fraud and conspiracy for stealing billions of dollars of money belonging to customers of his FTX crypto exchange, funneling the money to Alameda Research, his hedge fund. FTX had been one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges before its demise, a major player in derivatives trading including perpetual futures. The company's undoing was spurred by a CoinDesk scoop in November 2022 showing Alameda's balance sheet was mysteriously full of the FTT token issued by FTX – calling into question both Alameda and FTX's financial stability. The Bahamas-based company filed for bankruptcy nine days after the story. Before his downfall, SBF (as the former billionaire is commonly known as) had been a leading figure in crypto, pushing for regulation of the industry in the U.S. He was a major political donor and the public face of effective altruism, a movement geared toward maximizing the amount of good done by philanthropy. SBF was arrested in December 2022, and his bail was revoked due to alleged witness tampering. His trial began in October 2023, and he was convicted on Nov. 2, 2023, a year to the day after the CoinDesk story that caused his crypto empire to crumble.


Videos

Sam Bankman-Fried Expected to Accept US Extradition: Reports

FTX founder and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried will no longer contest extradition to the U.S. from the Bahamas, multiple media outlets have reported. CoinDesk Global Policy & Regulation Managing Editor Nikhilesh De discusses his change of heart and what this means for his extradition hearing on Feb. 8.

Recent Videos

Videos

Bitcoin Levels to Watch Amid SBF Arrest, FTX Fraud Charges

Wave Financial CEO David Siemer discusses his outlook for bitcoin and the wider crypto markets as FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried faces criminal charges from multiple authorities, and the U.S. Federal Reserve raises interest rates by half percent.

Recent Videos

Videos

Sam Bankman-Fried Soured US Govt's View on Crypto: Former Federal Prosecutor

"I don't expect any industry-friendly regulation" in the short term, says Renato Mariotti, partner at law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner and former federal prosecutor. He shares his regulatory outlook following the arrest of Sam Bankman-Fried.

Recent Videos

Videos

Understanding the Charges Brought Against Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried faces a litany of charges from the Department of Justice, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) as he sits in jail in the Bahamas. Renato Mariotti, partner at law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner and former federal prosecutor, breaks down the charges.

Recent Videos

Videos

Sen. Pat Toomey on FTX Collapse: 'Code Committed No Crime'

"Code committed no crime," Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) said Wednesday during a U.S. Senate hearing on the collapse of Sam Bankman-Fried's crypto exchange FTX. "With FTX, the problem was not with the instruments that were used. The problem was the misuse of customer funds."

CoinDesk placeholder image

Videos

Inside Sam Bankman-Fried’s First Bahamas Court Hearing After His Arrest

Sam Bankman-Fried, former CEO of crypto exchange FTX, told a Bahamas judge Tuesday he was not waiving his right to fight extradition to the United States. CoinDesk Regulatory Reporter Cheyenne Ligon, who was in the courtroom, shares her insights into Bankman-Fried's first court hearing since his arrest and what could happen next.

Recent Videos

Videos

US Lawmakers Scrutinize Crypto Industry in Senate Hearing on FTX Collapse

The Senate Banking Committee is holding a second day of hearings Wednesday on the collapse of Sam Bankman-Fried's crypto empire FTX and its industry impact. "The Hash" panel discusses some of the key points from the hearing, and the possible regulatory outcomes.

CoinDesk placeholder image

Videos

Rep. Ritchie Torres on FTX Fallout, SBF Arrest

New FTX CEO John J. Ray III testified before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee Tuesday as his predecessor Sam Bankman-Fried faces fraud and conspiracy charges. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), who attended the hearing, discusses the key takeaways and possible regulatory outcomes.

Recent Videos

Videos

Demonizing Crypto Industry After FTX Collapse 'Fundamentally Unfair:' US Congressman

U.S. Congressman Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) discusses his take on the legislation needed in the aftermath of FTX's collapse and how much of it is due to fraud. "Demonizing a whole industry based on the fraudulence of one actor is fundamentally unfair," Torres said. "Sam Bankman-Fried is not representative of crypto finance any more than Bernie Madoff is representative of conventional finance."

CoinDesk placeholder image