Sam Bankman-Fried

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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 SBF was arrested in December 2022, and his bail was revoked due to alleged witness tampering.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.

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Barbara Fried and Joe Bankman at the federal courthouse where their son, Sam Bankman-Fried, was preparing to testify on Oct. 26, 2023 (Victor Chen/CoinDesk)
Sam Bankman-Fried's Parents Ask Court to Dismiss FTX's Lawsuit Seeking to Recover Funds
Bankman and Fried, both professors at Stanford Law School, argued that Bankman did not have a fiduciary relationship with FTX .
Barbara Fried and Joe Bankman at the federal courthouse where their son, Sam Bankman-Fried, was preparing to testify on Oct. 26, 2023 (Victor Chen/CoinDesk)

Will the SEC Change Its Approach to Crypto Regulation in 2024?
Will the SEC Change Its Approach to Crypto Regulation in 2024?
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP partner Renato Mariotti joins First Mover to discuss his outlook on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) approach to crypto regu...
Will the SEC Change Its Approach to Crypto Regulation in 2024?

(CoinDesk, modified)
FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried Won't Face Second Criminal Trial, U.S. Prosecutors Say
The lawyers said much of the evidence they planned to introduce in the second trial was already introduced in the first case and can be considered in the sentencing planned fo...
(CoinDesk, modified)

From Sam Bankman-Fried to Alex Mashinsky - Comparing Crypto Related Court Battles
From Sam Bankman-Fried to Alex Mashinsky: Comparing Crypto Related Court Battles
After crypto lender Celsius declared bankruptcy, its founder and former chief executive officer, Alex Mashinsky was arrested on allegations of misleading investors and manipul...
From Sam Bankman-Fried to Alex Mashinsky - Comparing Crypto Related Court Battles

Crypto Court Battles: What to Expect in 2024
Crypto Court Battles: What to Expect in 2024
Pending court cases that could have a large impact on the crypto industry are top of mind for many market watchers as 2024 nears. CoinDesk managing editor for global policy an...
Crypto Court Battles: What to Expect in 2024

A Look Back at the State of Crypto Regulation in 2023
A Look Back at the State of Crypto Regulation in 2023
2023 was an eventful year for the digital assets industry. Ripple won a partial victory against the SEC, TradFi giants like BlackRock entered the spot bitcoin ETF race and FTX...
A Look Back at the State of Crypto Regulation in 2023

How the SEC Cracked Down on Crypto in 2023
How the SEC Cracked Down on Crypto in 2023
"CoinDesk Daily" host Jennifer Sanasie takes a look back on some of the crypto-related enforcement actions from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2023. The...
How the SEC Cracked Down on Crypto in 2023

Sam Bankman-Fried (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)
Judge Denies Sam Bankman-Fried Request for a Longer Sentencing Process
Bankman-Fried's defense team asked for a four to six week extension for his sentencing scheduled in late March, citing a possible second trial that may begin earlier in the mo...
Sam Bankman-Fried (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

CoinDesk's Ian Allison (Mason Webb/CoinDesk)
Ian Allison's Giant Sam Bankman-Fried Scoop Won Accolades in 2023
The CoinDesk reporter belongs in the Journalism Hall of Fame since there's little, if any, precedent for the waves his story on Alameda Research and FTX stirred up.
CoinDesk's Ian Allison (Mason Webb/CoinDesk)

Michael Kutsche's portrait of Caroline Ellison for Most Influential 2023.
Caroline Ellison Buried Sam Bankman-Fried
The former Alameda Research CEO gave damning testimony in the fraud trial of her former boyfriend, Sam Bankman-Fried, making her one of CoinDesk's Most Influential in 2023.
Michael Kutsche's portrait of Caroline Ellison for Most Influential 2023.