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☆ Ahead of sentencing, SBF team argues for 5-6 years in jail because FTX customers will get money back
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Bankman-Fried's fate will be announced in Manhattan on Thursday morning by Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the monthlong trial in November. Bankman-Fried was found guilty of seven charges tied to the collapse of crypto exchange FTX and the roughly $10 billion of customer deposits that went missing. Lawyers representing the bankruptcy estate of FTX told a judge in Delaware last month that they expect to fully repay customers and creditors with legitimate claims. Bankman-Fried's defense team has asked the court for a sentence in the range of 63 to 78 months. Beyond the fact that he's a "first time, nonviolent offender," attorneys for the FTX founder largely lean on the argument that Bankman-Fried's risky bets paid off and the bankruptcy estate expects to fully repay FTX customers.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, FTX, Andrew Dietderich, —, John Ray III, Michael Kives Organizations: K5 Global, SpaceX Locations: Manhattan, Delaware, Alameda, Bankman, Palo Alto , California

☆ Penthouse to prison: Sam Bankman-Fried's journey from crypto king to convicted conman
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of failed crypto exchange FTX, will head on Thursday to a federal court in downtown Manhattan, where U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan will deliver his sentencing. After a month of personally dabbling in the market, Bankman-Fried launched Alameda Research, named after the California county that housed his first office. The so-called crypto winter of 2022 wiped out hedge funds and lenders across the crypto universe. May of 2022 brought the crash of stablecoin Luna, creating a domino effect that sent crypto prices plunging, devastating other lenders. On Nov. 2, 2022, crypto trade site CoinDesk publicized details of Alameda's balance sheet, which showed $14.6 billion in assets.

Persons: Samuel Bankman, MacKenzie Sigalos, Sam Bankman, Fried, Damian Williams, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, they'd, FTX, Amr Alfiky, Jane Street, Goldman Sachs, stablecoin Luna, Solana, Changpeng Zhao, Binance, Zhao, Jane Rosenberg, he'd, Cromwell, John J, Ray, confidants, — CNBC's Rohan Goswami Organizations: CNBC, Metropolitan Detention, U.S, District, Prosecutors, Reuters, Jane, Alameda Research, Formula, Democratic, Voyager, Alameda, FTX, Industry, Investors, Enron, Securities and Exchange Commission, Stanford University Locations: San Francisco, he's, Brooklyn, Manhattan, U.S, New York City, South Korea, Alameda, California, Miami, Washington, Solana, FTX, New York, Palo Alto , California

☆ Parent of FTX victim who lost $130,000 asks judge to go easy on SBF, suggests six years in prison versus DOJ's 40-50
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried arrives for a bail hearing at Manhattan Federal Court on August 11, 2023 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty ImagesHeather Ferguson's son lost approximately $130,000 in cash when crypto exchange FTX went bankrupt in November 2022. Ferguson's letter is part of an eleventh hour push by the defense to appeal to Kaplan's sense of leniency as the judge gears up for Bankman-Fried's sentencing hearing on Thursday. Bankman-Fried's psychiatrist, George Lerner, told Judge Lewis Kaplan in a letter in August that the former FTX CEO has a history of depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Without his medication, Lerner warned the judge, "Bankman-Fried will experience a return of his depression and ADHD symptoms and will be severely negatively impacted in his ability to assist in his own defense."

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Michael M, Heather Ferguson's, Ferguson, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Yesha Yadav, Dean, Kaplan, George Lerner, Lewis Kaplan, Lerner, Maria Centrella, Asperger's, Judge Kaplan, Michael Lewis's, Sam I, …, Centrella, Joe, Sam, Matt Kelly, Kelly Organizations: Manhattan Federal Court, Santiago, Getty, District, Alameda Research, Vanderbilt University, CNBC, Bankman, Autism, MIT Locations: New York City, Manhattan

The Securities and Exchange Commission scored a major win in its lawsuit against Coinbase on Wednesday, as a judge ruled that its claim that the cryptocurrency exchange engaged in unregistered sales of securities could be heard by a jury at trial. Coinbase shares fell around 2% on news of the ruling in Manhattan federal court rejecting its bid to dismiss the SEC's complaint. The regulator first filed suit against Coinbase in June, alleging the company was acting as an unregistered broker and exchange. "The Court finds that the SEC adequately alleges that Coinbase, through its Staking Program, engaged in the unregistered offer and sale of securities," Failla wrote. In June, SEC Chair Gary Gensler said that trading platforms like Coinbase "call themselves exchanges" but were "commingling a number of functions."

Persons: Coinbase, Katherine Polk Failla, Failla, Paul Grewal, Grewal, Gary Gensler, Gensler Organizations: The Securities, Exchange Commission, Coinbase, SEC, New York Stock Exchange, CNBC Locations: Manhattan, U.S

☆ Texan bitcoiners start mining in Argentina, where peso is in freefall
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

For two Texas-based bitcoin miners, the oil deposit offers a dream resource: wasted energy. Brent Whitehead and Matt Lohstroh, both graduates of Texas A&M University, have been mining bitcoin on the oil fields of East Texas since 2019. That's when they founded Giga Energy with the goal of taking flared natural gas and turning it into electricity to run bitcoin mines, which are notoriously power-thirsty. Whitehead comes from a long line of "wildcats," a term used to describe those who engage in high-risk exploratory drilling. On the small pilot site in Argentina, Exa Tech is handling operations on the ground, Phoenix Global is providing the gas and Giga is supplying the equipment.

Persons: Brent Whitehead, Matt Lohstroh, Vaca, Whitehead Organizations: Texas, M University, Giga Energy, Giga, Phoenix Global Resources, IT, Tech, Energy Systems, CNBC, wildcats, Exa, Phoenix Global Locations: Texas, Argentine, Mendoza, East Texas, Argentina, Shanghai, Vaca Muerta, Denver

☆ FTX estate selling majority stake in AI startup Anthropic for $884 million, with bulk going to UAE
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bankrupt crypto exchange FTX has struck a deal with a consortium of buyers to sell the majority of its stake in artificial intelligence startup Anthropic for $884 million, according to a filing submitted late Friday to a Delaware court. That group is purchasing nearly $500 million worth of Anthropic shares. Multiple sovereign wealth funds were reportedly clamoring for a piece of FTX's Anthropic stake. Jane Street's head of quantitative research, Craig Falls, has also proposed to personally buy around $20 million worth of shares. Should it be approved, the sale would collectively account for nearly two-thirds of FTX's shares in Anthropic.

Persons: Jane Street, Sam Bankman, Fried, Caroline Ellison, Jane Street's, Craig, John Dorsey Organizations: Investment Co, United, United Arab Emirates, CNBC, Alameda Research, Venture, HOF Capital, Ford Foundation, Fidelity Management Locations: Delaware, United Arab, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Craig Falls, Anthropic

Binance faces charges of alleged non-payment of Value-Added Tax (VAT) and company income tax, failure to submit tax returns and complicity in aiding customers to evade taxes through its platform, the reports said. Alongside the company, two senior executives — U.S. citizen Tigran Gambaryan and British-Kenyan Nadeem Anjarwalla — were both charged and remanded in custody by Nigerian authorities. "We were made aware that Nadeem is no longer in Nigerian custody. Our primary focus remains on the safety of our employees and we are working collaboratively with Nigerian authorities to quickly resolve this issue," a Binance spokesperson told CNBC. watch nowThe families of the two employees declined to comment at this time, but issued statements on March 20, following a hearing at which Nigerian authorities extended their detainment.

Persons: Budrul Chukrut, Tigran Gambaryan, Nadeem Anjarwalla —, Anjarwalla, Nadeem, Anjarwalla's, Elahe Anjarwalla, Tigran, Binance, Yuki, Samuel Alabi Organizations: Getty, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Federal High Court, —, CNBC, British, U.S ., Locals, Abuja, Afp Locations: Nigeria, Abuja, British, Binance, Nigerian, IBADAN, Ibadan

☆ Inside Austin's bitcoin underground
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailInside Austin's bitcoin undergroundCNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos reports from Austin, one of the country's biggest bitcoin hubs.

Persons: CNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos Locations: Austin

☆ All eyes are on AI at SXSW
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAll eyes are on AI at SXSWCNBC’s Mackenzie Sigalos joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss the latest from SXSW including AI applications and the issue of the energy needed to power AI.

Persons: Mackenzie Sigalos Organizations: SXSW

☆ Bitcoin hits new all-time high as crypto fans descend on Austin for SXSW
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBitcoin hits new all-time high as crypto fans descend on Austin for SXSWCNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos joins 'Last Call' to report on bitcoin's record rise higher from Austin where SXSW kicks off today.

Persons: CNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos Organizations: Austin, SXSW Locations: Austin

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBitcoin prices recover after retreating from new record: CNBC Crypto WorldCNBC Crypto World features the latest news and daily trading updates from the digital currency markets and provides viewers with a look at what's ahead with high-profile interviews, explainers, and unique stories from the ever-changing crypto industry. On today's show, Chris Dixon, founder and managing partner of a16z crypto, discusses his new book on blockchain technology, blockchain use cases and Ethereum's next big upgrade from ETHDenver.

Persons: explainers, Chris Dixon Organizations: CNBC Crypto, CNBC Locations: ETHDenver

☆ Bitcoin resumes rally after hitting a new all-time high
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBitcoin resumes rally after hitting a new all-time highCNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos reports on factors driving bitcoin's record run higher, including spot ETFs fomenting institutional adoption of the asset class.

Persons: CNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos

Microsoft is accusing The New York Times of "unsubstantiated" claims in the publisher's lawsuit filed in December against OpenAI, a case that could have major implications for the future of generative artificial intelligence. In a motion to dismiss part of the suit on Monday, Microsoft said the Times presented a false narrative of "doomsday futurology" in which OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot will decimate the news business. "In this case, The New York Times uses its might and its megaphone to challenge the latest profound technological advance: the Large Language Model," attorneys for Microsoft wrote. In its lawsuit, the Times accused OpenAI and Microsoft of copyright infringement and abusing the newspaper's intellectual property in training LLMs. A New York Times spokesperson didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Microsoft Corporation Satya Nadella, OpenAI, didn't Organizations: Microsoft Corporation, Economic, Microsoft, New York Times, OpenAI, Times, The New York Times Locations: Davos, Switzerland, OpenAI

☆ Bitcoin is boring and that is its beauty: Neoclassic's Mike Bucella
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBitcoin is boring and that is its beauty: Neoclassic's Mike BucellaCNBC's Mackenzie Sigalos and Mike Bucella, Neoclassic Capital managing partner, join 'Power Lunch' to discuss the surge in Bitcoin and the state of cryptocurrency.

Persons: Mike Bucella CNBC's Mackenzie Sigalos, Mike Bucella Organizations: Neoclassic Capital Locations: cryptocurrency

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBitcoin inches closer to all-time high as cryptocurrency tests $67,000: CNBC Crypto WorldCNBC Crypto World features the latest news and daily trading updates from the digital currency markets and provides viewers with a look at what's ahead with high-profile interviews, explainers, and unique stories from the ever-changing crypto industry. On today's show, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce discusses what needs to change for regulating crypto in the U.S. from ETHDenver.

Persons: explainers, Hester Peirce Organizations: CNBC Crypto, CNBC, SEC Locations: U.S, ETHDenver

☆ Ether surges past $3,600 as thousands descend on ETHDenver 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailEther surges past $3,600 as thousands descend on ETHDenver 2024CNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos reports from ETHDenver on the latest trends in web3 and AI.

Persons: CNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos Locations: ETHDenver

☆ Bitcoin price surge and generative AI dominate discourse at Africa Tech Summit
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBitcoin price surge and generative AI dominate discourse at Africa Tech SummitCNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos reports from Nairobi, Kenya, on bitcoin's big upward price swings, how crypto adoption is growing there, and other headlines from the Africa Tech Summit.

Persons: Africa Tech Summit CNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos Organizations: Africa Tech Summit Locations: Nairobi, Kenya

☆ Ether up 50% this year as trader optimism soars over possible spot ether ETF approval
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailEther up 50% this year as trader optimism soars over possible spot ether ETF approvalCNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos reports from EthDenver on the run-up in crypto prices as thousands gather for one of the biggest crypto conferences of the year.

Persons: CNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos Locations: EthDenver

☆ Coinbase users see $0 balance after crypto-trading app suffers glitch
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Coinbase and bitcoin logos are displayed on a phone screen in San Anselmo, California, on Feb. 15, 2024. Coinbase 's app suffered from glitches on Wednesday that led many users to see a balance of zero when opening their accounts. "We are aware that some users may see a zero balance across their Coinbase accounts and may experience errors in buying or selling," Coinbase said in a statement to CNBC. Coinbase advised users to check on the system outage at its status page: https://status.coinbase.com/incidents/qlpwww1zsm2yOne user sent a screengrab to CNBC showing a balance of $0.00 in his account. He soon received a notice titled "Site Degraded Performance," informing him that the company was investigating the matter.

Persons: Coinbase, Bitcoin Organizations: CNBC Locations: San Anselmo , California

Michael Saylor, chairman and CEO of MicroStrategy, speaks during the Bitcoin 2022 conference in Miami on April 7, 2022. While the long-term safety of bitcoin may still be up for debate, Saylor's strategy has been a hugely lucrative one, particularly this week. Add it up and Saylor is about $700 million richer than he was on Sunday. Between Saylor's MicroStrategy control and his bitcoin, his holdings climbed to $2.96 billion in value on Wednesday from $2.27 billion at the start of the week. The company said on Monday that it acquired an additional 3,000 bitcoins for a total of $155 million between Feb. 15 and Feb. 25.

Persons: Michael Saylor, MicroStrategy's Michael Saylor, Saylor, MicroStrategy, Andrew Kang, bitcoin Organizations: MicroStrategy Locations: Miami, bitcoin

"Normal people do not use OpenAI's products in this way," OpenAI wrote in the filing. The news outlet's lawsuit, filed in December, seeks to hold Microsoft and OpenAI accountable for billions of dollars in damages. In the past, OpenAI has said it's "impossible" to train top AI models without copyrighted works. "We expect our ongoing negotiations with others to yield additional partnerships soon," OpenAI wrote in the filing. But in the filing, OpenAI says the content is vital to training today's AI models.

Persons: Sam Altman, OpenAI, Altman, Axel Springer, — CNBC's Ryan Browne Organizations: Economic, The New York Times, New York Times, Microsoft, House, Times, Bloomberg, CNN, Fox Corp, CNBC PRO Locations: Davos, Switzerland, Manhattan

☆ Bitcoin firm MicroStrategy pops 27% in two days as company's crypto stake hits $11 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In this article MSTR Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTMicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor speaks at the Bitcoin 2021 Convention, a crypto-currency conference held at the Mana Convention Center in Wynwood on June 04, 2021 in Miami, Florida. MicroStrategy, along with its subsidiaries, now owns about 193,000 bitcoins worth $11 billion. watch nowInvestors have been increasingly bullish on the bitcoin trade following the SEC's approval of multiple spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds last month. "Institutional capital is still getting up to speed with bitcoin ETFs. For example, MicroStrategy has the ability to acquire bitcoin using proceeds from debt and equity issuances, the firm said.

Persons: Michael Saylor, Joe Raedle, MicroStategy, Andrew King, bitcoin, Bitcoin, Ryan Rasmussen, —, MicroStrategy, Cowen, CNBC's Dylan Butts, Ari Levy Organizations: Mana Convention, Getty, Bitwise Asset Management, Research, Benchmark Locations: Wynwood, Miami , Florida, bitcoin, Bitcoin

☆ Block shares surge as much as 14% after company announces surprise profit
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Block stock rose as much as 14% in extended trading Thursday after the payments company reported fourth-quarter earnings that beat analyst estimates on gross profit and showed strong growth in its Square and Cash App revenue. Revenue: $5.77 billion vs. $5.70 billion expectedBlock posted $2.03 billion in gross profit, up 22% from a year ago. Analysts tend to focus on gross profit as a more accurate measurement of the company's core transactional businesses. Its Cash App business reported $1.18 billion in gross profit, a 25% year-over-year rise. The company, which is run by Jack Dorsey, said its Cash App Card has 23 million monthly actives in December, up 20%.

Persons: Jack Dorsey, Dorsey Organizations: Twitter Inc, Inc, Cash Locations: Miami , Florida

☆ As Sam Bankman-Fried awaits prison sentence, FTX customers await a surprise: full repayment
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Government exhibit in the case against former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. Lawyers representing the bankruptcy estate of FTX told a judge in Delaware last week that they expect to fully repay customers and creditors with legitimate claims. After the dust settled from FTX's bankruptcy, Solana saw a huge run-up in its price, and it continued to rally after the September report. The bankruptcy estate of FTX has been looking to sell its Anthropic stake, according to a court filing this month. For FTX customers, being made whole, according to a judge's ruling, means getting the cash equivalent of what their crypto was worth in November 2022.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, FTX, Andrew Dietderich, —, Joseph Bankman, Barbara Fried, Brendan Mcdermid, John Ray III, Michael Kives, Braden Perry, FTX's, Ray, we're, It's, Solana, Lewis Kaplan, Elizabeth Williams, Michael Lewis, Lewis, IOUs, Perry, SBF, Renato Mariotti, Mariotti Organizations: Bankman, Federal Court, Reuters, K5 Global, SpaceX, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, CNBC, Alameda Research, U.S . Justice Department's Securities, Commodities, SEC Chari Locations: FTX, Delaware, Plenty, Palo Alto , California, New York City, U.S, Bankman, Solana, Alameda, FTX's, Anthropic, New York, Brooklyn

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCelsius exits bankruptcy, starts returning more than $3 billion to creditors: CNBC Crypto WorldCNBC Crypto World features the latest news and daily trading updates from the digital currency markets and provides viewers with a look at what's ahead with high-profile interviews, explainers, and unique stories from the ever-changing crypto industry. On today's show, Cory Klippsten, founder and CEO of Swan Bitcoin, discusses the company's decision to launch its own mining business.

Persons: explainers, Cory Klippsten, Swan Bitcoin Organizations: CNBC Crypto, CNBC

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