In a shocking announcement, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York has accused Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and CEO of FTX, of orchestrating one of the biggest financial crimes in US history.
According to the indictment, Bankman-Fried and his associates allegedly manipulated the prices of various cryptocurrencies on FTX and other platforms, defrauding investors of billions of dollars. The US Attorney also alleged that Bankman-Fried used his influence and connections to evade regulatory scrutiny and launder money through offshore entities.
The indictment comes as a major blow to the crypto industry, which has been enjoying a surge of popularity and innovation in recent years. Bankman-Fried is widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful figures in the space, having built FTX into one of the largest and most innovative crypto exchanges in the world. He is also known for his philanthropic efforts, having pledged to donate most of his wealth to effective altruism causes.
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However, the US Attorney claims that behind this facade of benevolence lies a ruthless and greedy scheme to enrich himself and his cronies at the expense of unsuspecting investors. The indictment details how Bankman-Fried and his co-conspirators allegedly used sophisticated trading algorithms and bots to manipulate the prices of various cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Dogecoin.
By creating artificial demand and supply, they were able to inflate and deflate the prices at will, profiting from both the ups and downs. They also allegedly exploited their access to insider information and market data to execute their trades ahead of other participants, giving them an unfair advantage.
The US Attorney also alleges that Bankman-Fried and his associates used various methods to conceal their illicit activities and evade detection. They allegedly created multiple accounts and identities on FTX and other platforms, using VPNs, proxies, and encryption tools to mask their locations and IP addresses.
They also allegedly transferred their ill-gotten gains to offshore entities and accounts, using complex layers of shell companies, trusts, and foundations to obscure their ownership and origin. The indictment names several jurisdictions where Bankman-Fried allegedly operated his scheme, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, Panama, and the Cayman Islands.
Sam Bankman-Fried, the billionaire founder and CEO of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has a surprising ambition: he wants to be the president of the United States. That’s according to his ex-girlfriend Caroline Ellison, who spoke to Business Insider about their relationship and his political aspirations.
Ellison, a 28-year-old software engineer, dated Bankman-Fried for about a year and a half, from late 2018 to mid-2020. She said they met on a dating app and bonded over their shared interest in math, logic and cryptocurrencies. They also shared a passion for social causes and effective altruism, a philosophy that advocates for using evidence and reasoning to maximize positive impact in the world.
Ellison said Bankman-Fried was always very ambitious and driven, but also humble and generous. He donated millions of dollars to various charities and political campaigns, especially those that supported climate change mitigation and animal welfare. He also founded the FTX Foundation, which donates 1% of FTX’s revenue to effective altruism causes.
But Ellison said Bankman-Fried had another goal that he rarely talked about publicly: he wanted to run for president of the United States someday. She said he believed that he could use his skills and influence to make the world a better place, and that being the leader of the most powerful country would give him the best opportunity to do so.
“He always had this idea that he wanted to be president,” Ellison said. “He thought that he had the best chance of solving the world’s problems, and that he could do it better than anyone else.”
Ellison said Bankman-Fried was serious about his presidential ambitions, and that he had a detailed plan for how to achieve them. He planned to use his wealth and connections to build a network of supporters and allies, and to fund his own campaign. He also planned to leverage his expertise in cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology to create innovative solutions for various issues, such as voting systems, campaign finance and digital identity.
Ellison said Bankman-Fried was not deterred by the challenges or risks involved in running for president. He was confident in his abilities and vision, and he was willing to sacrifice his personal life and privacy for the greater good. He also believed that he had a unique advantage over other candidates: he was not affiliated with any political party or ideology, and he could appeal to voters across the spectrum with his rational and pragmatic approach.
“He didn’t care about labels or categories,” Ellison said. “He just cared about what worked and what didn’t work. He was very data-driven and evidence-based. He wanted to find the best solutions for every problem, regardless of whether they were left-wing or right-wing or something else.”
Ellison said she supported Bankman-Fried’s presidential aspirations, but she also had some reservations. She said she worried about how the public would react to his unconventional background and personality, and how the media would portray him. She also worried about how their relationship would change if he became president, and whether they would be able to maintain their intimacy and privacy.
“I loved him very much, but I also knew that being with him would mean giving up a lot of things,” Ellison said. “I knew that if he became president, I would have to share him with the world, and that I would have to deal with a lot of scrutiny and pressure. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that.”
Ellison said she ultimately decided to break up with Bankman-Fried in June 2020, shortly after he moved from Hong Kong to the Bahamas to set up his new headquarters for FTX. She said the distance and the pandemic made it harder for them to stay in touch, and that they grew apart over time. She said they still remained friends, and that they occasionally talked on the phone or online.
Ellison said she did not know if Bankman-Fried still planned to run for president in the future, but she wished him all the best. She said she still admired him for his intelligence, generosity and vision, and that she hoped he would achieve his goals.
“I think he would make a great president,” Ellison said. “He has a lot of potential and a lot of ideas. He could really make a difference in the world.”
The US Attorney stated that this is one of the most complex and sophisticated financial crimes he has ever seen, involving multiple jurisdictions, currencies, platforms, and actors. He said that his office is determined to bring Bankman-Fried and his associates to justice, and to recover the stolen funds for the victims.
He also warned that this is not an isolated case, but part of a larger crackdown on crypto-related fraud and money laundering. He urged anyone who has invested in or traded cryptocurrencies on FTX or other platforms to contact his office or the FBI immediately.
Bankman-Fried has not yet commented on the allegations, but his lawyers have issued a statement denying any wrongdoing and vowing to fight the charges. They said that Bankman-Fried is a visionary entrepreneur who has contributed immensely to the development and innovation of the crypto industry.
They said that he has always operated with integrity and transparency, and that he has complied with all applicable laws and regulations. They said that the indictment is based on false accusations and misunderstandings of how crypto markets work. They said that they are confident that Bankman-Fried will be exonerated in court.