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 SBF was arrested in December 2022, and his bail was revoked due to alleged witness tampering.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 Resigns as FTX Files for U.S. Bankruptcy Protections

Crypto exchange FTX filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. as CEO Sam Bankman-Fried also resigns from his role, but will "assist in an orderly transition." John Ray III is the new CEO. "The Hash" panel discusses the latest in the downfall of the FTX empire.

Nov 11, 2022

Policy

FTX Employees Worldwide Learned of Bankruptcy Along With the Public

Staff from FTX Japan and other subsidiaries found out about the insolvency filing on Twitter, CoinDesk was told.

By Lavender Au, Sandali HandagamaNov 11, 2022

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Opinion

FTX Lesson: Crypto Needs the Press, the Press Needs Crypto

CoinDesk played a central role in this week’s FTX meltdown, following our coverage of Alameda Research’s suspect balance sheet last week. But the crypto industry's maturation and eventual success requires that we flesh out these unstable structures and bad practices.

By Michael J. CaseyNov 11, 2022

Podcasts

Crypto Update | Traders Staggered as FTX Declares Bankruptcy (Including Its US Affiliate)

By Adrian Blust, Adam B. LevineNov 11, 2022

Weekend Story | The Short-Sightedness of Run-Amok Regulators

Videos

What FTX Filing For US Bankruptcy Protection Means For Crypto Markets

Sam Bankman-Fried has stepped down as CEO of crypto exchange FTX as the company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Forex.com Global Head of Research Matt Weller discusses FTX's downfall and what this means for bitcoin (BTC), altcoins, and the crypto industry at large.

Nov 11, 2022

Layer 2

How Sam Bankman-Fried’s ‘Effective’ Altruism Blew Up FTX

The Alameda Research and FTX founder believed he had singular insight into how to fix the world's problems. Instead, he wound up exemplifying them.

By David Z. MorrisNov 11, 2022

Videos

Crypto Markets Entering the 'Depression' Phase Amid FTX Bankruptcy Filing

Following FTX's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried's resignation, bitcoin (BTC) immediately dipped to the $16,000 level. "There's likely more pain ahead before we can finally form a bottom," said Matt Weller, Forex.com Global Head of Research.

Nov 11, 2022

Videos

FTX Contagion Worries

FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried apologizes, but will investors get their funds back? That story and other news shaping the cryptocurrency world in this episode of "The Daily Forkast."

Nov 11, 2022

Videos

FTX Files for Bankruptcy Protections in US; Sam Bankman-Fried Resigns

Crypto exchange FTX announced that it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and Sam Bankman-Fried has stepped down from his role as CEO but will “remain to assist in an orderly transition.” CoinDesk Global Policy & Regulation Managing Editor Nikhilesh De weighs in.

Nov 11, 2022

Finance