Latest update — Former FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried trial [Day 1]

Cointelegraph reporters are on the bottom in New York for the trial of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. Because the saga unfolds, verify under for the most recent updates.

Oct. 3: SBF trial begins

The trial of Sam Bankman-Fried started on Oct. Three with jury choice. Bankman-Fried is charged with seven counts of conspiracy and fraud in reference to the collapse of FTX, the cryptocurrency change he co-founded. He has pleaded not responsible to all fees. The case is being heard by Choose Lewis Kaplan, who has presided over a protracted checklist of different high-profile instances, together with ones involving detainees at Guantanamo Bay, the Gambino crime household, Prince Andrew and Donald Trump.

Bankman-Fried was ordered to be jailed on Aug. 11 after Kaplan discovered that his sharing of former Alameda Analysis CEO Caroline Ellison’s private papers amounted to witness intimidation. Alameda Analysis was a buying and selling home additionally based by Bankman-Fried. Beforehand, he had been underneath home arrest in his dad and mom’ residence in Stanford, California, on a $250 million bond.

December: SBF arrested

Bankman-Fried was arrested in america on his arrival from the Bahamas on Dec. 21, 2022. He had been arrested within the Bahamas on Dec. 12 after the U.S. authorities formally notified that nation of fees the U.S. was submitting towards him. He declared his intention to struggle extradition from the Caribbean nation however modified his thoughts after every week in Bahaman jail and consented to extradition.

In the meantime, FTX co-founder Gary Wang and Alameda Analysis CEO (and reportedly someday SBF girlfriend) Ellison agreed to plead responsible within the burgeoning case.

November: FTX collapses

Bankman-Fried’s troubles started when reviews emerged on Nov. 2 that Alameda Analysis had a big holding of FTT, the FTX utility token. That revelation led to questions concerning the relationship between the 2 entities. On Nov. 6, Changpeng Zhao, CEO of rival change Binance, introduced that his change would liquidate its FTT holdings, which had been estimated to be value $2.1 billion. Zhao turned down a proposal tweeted by Ellison to purchase Binance’s FTT.

A run started on FTX. Bankman-Fried gave reassurances on Twitter (now X) that the change’s “belongings are effective” and accused “a competitor” of spreading rumors. By Nov. 8, the value of FTT had fallen from $22 to $15.40. 

It’s solely been one week since SBF’s infamous “FTX is ok. Property are effective.” pic.twitter.com/zKoILqquHF

— Robert Smith (@BondHack) November 14, 2022

Additionally on Nov. 8, Bankman-Fried introduced on Twitter that he had come to an settlement with Zhang “on a strategic transaction.” He wrote, “Our groups are engaged on clearing out the withdrawal backlog as is. It will filter out liquidity crunches; all belongings might be lined 1:1.”

On Nov. 9, Zhang introduced that Binance wouldn’t pursue the acquisition of FTX after due diligence and extra reviews of mishandled funds. The value of Bitcoin (BTC) plummeted to $15,600. The FTX and Alameda Analysis web sites went darkish for a number of hours. When the FTX web site got here again, it bore a warning towards making deposits and was unable to course of withdrawals. 

On Nov. 10, Bankman-Fried posted a 22-part Twitter thread that started with “I’m sorry.” It was the primary of a protracted string of public statements he made concerning the change’s fall. The next day, all the employees of Alameda Analysis give up, and FTX, FTX US and Alameda Analysis filed for chapter in america. Bankman-Fried resigned as FTX CEO and was changed by John J. Ray III. Ray was greatest recognized for his position within the Enron chapter.

SBF and FTX earlier than the autumn

Originally of 2022, FTX had a $32 billion valuation and was regarded as in enviable monetary situation. Bankman-Fried was seen as a revered enterprise chief by a lot of the crypto neighborhood and the world at massive. He was photographed with political leaders and spoke in Congressional hearings. 

Maxine Waters is chairing the investigation into FTX https://t.co/oFMctH4rRh pic.twitter.com/Ox6O5w4nOl

— Jordan Schachtel @ file.right now (@JordanSchachtel) November 17, 2022

He had gained a repute as a philanthropist, pursuing a philosophy standard amongst teachers often known as efficient altruism. A part of his implementation of that philosophy was political activism within the type of monetary assist for candidates. 

Because the crypto winter set in, Bankman-Fried spoke of FTX and Alameda Analysis’s “duty to noticeably take into account stepping in, even whether it is at a loss to ourselves, to stem contagion.” The businesses made a bid for Voyager Digital that was rebuffed.

FTX made a take care of Visa to introduce its personal debit card in 40 international locations. 

Bankman-Fried, Ellison and different alumni of Jane Road Capital based Alameda Analysis in 2017. Bankman-Fried went on to discovered FTX with Wang in 2019. Zhao was an early investor within the change. 

This can be a growing story, and additional data might be added because it turns into accessible.