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☆ Caroline Ellison 'freaked out' when the crypto market crashed as she realized Alameda owed billions to lenders
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Katie Balevic | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Bankman-Fried directed Ellison to find "alternative ways" to present troubling finances to lenders. Around May 2022, as Alameda continued to borrow from FTX, Ellison said the cryptocurrency market experienced a downturn, as did Alameda's assets. Despite the troubling outlook, Ellison said, Bankman-Fried directed her to continue using FTX customer's assets and other liquid assets to repay Alameda's lenders. Despite her concerns, Bankman-Fried "continued to direct me to repay the loans" that Alameda owed to lenders, Ellison said. When pressed, she added that she "understood that to mean he was telling me to use Alameda's line of credit at FTX."

Persons: Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman, Fried, Ellison, —, Sam, FTX, messaged Ellison Organizations: Service, Alameda Research, Alameda Locations: Manhattan, Alameda, Ellison

Ellison said the hedge fund, Alameda Research, took about $10 billion in FTX customer funds to repay its debts and make investments. Gary Wang, FTX's former technology chief, testified that Bankman-Fried falsely tweeted that FTX was "fine" in November as the exchange faced surging demand for withdrawals. Bankman-Fried left in 2017 to found Alameda, and Ellison followed when he offered her a job as a trader. "He was very ambitious," Ellison told the court. In testimony that could undermine that argument, Ellison said she always consulted Bankman-Fried on big decisions and always deferred to him.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Eduardo Munoz, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, FTX, Fried, Mark Cohen, Gary Wang, Nishad Singh, Bankman, Jane, Joe Biden's, Cohen, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Luc Cohen, Jody Godoy, Noeleen Walder, Nick Zieminski, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Alameda Research, Manhattan U.S, Prosecutors, Alameda, Bankman, Wall, Ellison, New York Times, Times, District, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Alameda, FTX

In the memo, Bankman-Fried called Alameda's failure to hedge its bets a "mistake." When Everdell asked if the decision not to hedge was Ellison's, Wang replied that she was Alameda's CEO at the time. Prosecutors said last week they planned to call Ellison to take the stand once Wang finishes his testimony. She was seen entering the courthouse on Tuesday morning wearing a blue baseball cap and sunglasses, and carrying a blue thermos. A third former member of Bankman-Fried's inner circle, ex-FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh, is also expected to testify at trial.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Eduardo Munoz, Caroline Ellison, Christian Everdell's, Gary Wang, Everdell, Wang, Ellison, Prosecutors, Fried, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Nishad Singh, FTX, Christian Everdell, Mark Cohen, Luc Cohen, Jody Godoy, Noeleen Walder, Matthew Lewis, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, Alameda Research, New York Times, U.S, District, Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, Bankman, Alameda, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Manhattan, Brooklyn's, Alameda, Washington ,

☆ SBF Trial Today: Live Updates as Caroline Ellison Testifies
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Caroline Ellison is taking the stand Tuesday in the trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried. Ellison is Bankman-Fried's ex-girlfriend, as well as his former top deputy, so the testimony has the potential to get personal and raw. Bankman-Fried is on trial facing several fraud charges for his role in the collapse of his crypto exchange. Alameda used FTX customer funds to make risky bets. Meet the main players in the FTX trialCatch up on what's happened so far in the trialListen to our special FTX trial podcast: The Crypto Golden BoyNeed more?

Persons: Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman, Ellison, Fried Locations: Alameda

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried trial: Caroline Ellison is getting ready to testify against FTX founder
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Her testimony is crucial to prosecutors’ case against Sam Bankman-Fried, whom they accuse of orchestrating a scheme to steal billions of dollars from customer accounts in FTX, his now-bankrupt crypto trading platform. Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research. carolinecapital/XProsecutors’ case hinges on evidence that FTX and Alameda were deeply financially intertwined, despite repeated assurances from Bankman-Fried that they were separate companies, operating independently from one another. As Alameda was spiraling last fall, Ellison told her employees that the fund had borrowed money from FTX customer accounts to pay back lenders. Already, prosecutors have presented evidence that looks bad for Bankman-Fried, though the defense has yet to present its case.

Persons: CNN Business ’, Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman, Ellison, FTX’s, ‘, — Ellison, SBF, ” Ellison, “, Fried, Sam Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Alameda Research, Stanford, New York Times Locations: New York, FTX, Bankman, Alameda, Manhattan

☆ 'I wanted more': Caroline Ellison tells jury that Sam Bankman-Fried didn't pay her enough attention during their relationship
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Grace Kay | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Caroline Ellison gave details on her past relationship with Sam Bankman-Fried in court on Tuesday. The ex-Alameda Research CEO said she "wanted more" in the relationship. Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, broke down her relationship with her on-and-off boyfriend Sam Bankman-Fried during his criminal trial in a downtown Manhattan federal courtroom on Tuesday. "In our personal relationship, there was a feeling that I wanted more in our relationship," Ellison testified. Prosecutors allege the former FTX CEO commingled funds between FTX and Alameda Research.

Persons: Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman, Ellison, —, Jane Street, Fried, Michael Lewis, Caroline, Lewis, Sam Organizations: Alameda Research, Service, Jane, New York Times, Bankman, Prosecutors Locations: Manhattan, FTX, Alameda

☆ Caroline Ellison to Testify Today in FTX Founder Sam-Bankman Fried's Trial: Live Updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried is on trial facing several fraud charges for his role in the collapse of his crypto exchange. Bankman-Fried's top deputy, Caroline Ellison, is expected to take the stand in the afternoon. Alameda used FTX customer funds to make risky bets. Ellison is an ex-girlfriend of Bankman-Fried so the testimony has the potential to get personal and raw. Meet the main players in the FTX trialCatch up on what's happened so far in the trialListen to our special FTX trial podcast: The Crypto Golden BoyNeed more?

Persons: Sam Bankman, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, Fried Locations: Alameda

☆ Inside Sam Bankman-Fried's $35 million crypto frat house in the Bahamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Lawyers for the U.S. Attorney's office entered into evidence a series of photos featuring the $35 million penthouse where Sam Bankman-Fried and his fellow co-workers resided. Lawyers for the U.S. Attorney's office entered into evidence a series of photos featuring the $35 million penthouse where Sam Bankman-Fried and his fellow co-workers resided. Lawyers for the U.S. Attorney's office entered into evidence photos featuring Sam Bankman-Fried and his fellow co-workers at their shared $35 million Bahamian penthouse. In his testimony, Yedidia recalled a group Signal thread labeled "People of the House," which referred to Bankman-Fried's $35 million penthouse. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Exhibit from the prosecution shows Signal thread called "People of the House," referring to Bankman-Fried's $35 million penthouse, where many employees lived.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Gary Wang, Adam Yedidia, Caroline Ellison, She's, somethings, Lewis Kaplan, Yedidia, it's, Ryan Salame, Joseph Bankman, Barbara Fried, Bankman, John Ray, Ray, Tiger Woods, Justin Timberlake, Michael Lewis, Lewis, napping, Mark Cohen, FTX, Ellison, hadn't Organizations: U.S, Southern, of, Lawyers, Alameda Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, SDNY, Bankman, Alameda, New Providence, FTX, Enron, Capitol, Prosecutors Locations: Bahamas, Manhattan, He's, of New York, Bankman, FTX, Alameda, Hong Kong, Caribbean, New Providence, New, U.S, Albany, oceanside

☆ SBF’s ex-girlfriend Caroline Ellison takes the stand as government’s star witness
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Ellison, who ran FTX's sister hedge fund Alameda Research, pleaded guilty in December to two counts of wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Ellison also spent years as Bankman-Fried's on-again, off-again girlfriend and, at times, his roommate. Caroline Ellison, former chief executive officer of Alameda Research LLC, center, arrives at court in New York, US, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. Noticeably absent thus far in proceedings is the mention of Ellison's co-CEO Sam Trabucco, who was a classmate of Bankman-Fried at MIT. Lawyers for the U.S. Attorney's office entered into evidence photos featuring Sam Bankman-Fried and his fellow co-workers at their shared $35 million Bahamian penthouse.

Persons: Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman, Ellison, Gary Wang —, Fried, Yuki Iwamura, Attorney Thane Rehn, Rehn, Mark Cohen, Ellison's, Sam Trabucco, Trabucco Organizations: Alameda Research, Stanford, Jane Capital, Alameda, Bloomberg, Getty, Attorney, MIT, U.S Locations: Manhattan, Alameda, San Francisco Bay, New York, FTX

☆ Caroline Ellison took almost 30 seconds to recognize ex-boyfriend Sam Bankman-Fried as testimony begins
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

From a courthouse in downtown Manhattan, Ellison then listed her crimes: "fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering." Ellison, who ran Alameda Research, pleaded guilty in December to two counts of wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Ellison said she was under the impression that it was FTX customer money because the sums exceeded the exchange's profits and the amount of capital it hard raised. That followed an in-person conversation between Ellison, Bankman-Fried and Sam Trabucco, Alameda's co-CEO. WATCH: Caroline Ellison testifies Sam Bankman-Fried directed her to commit crimes

Persons: Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman, Ellison, Danielle Sassoon, Fried, Sassoon, Bankman, Sam, FTX, Binance, Sam Trabucco, Alameda's Organizations: Alameda Research, Jane, Stanford, Jane Capital, Alameda Locations: Manhattan, Alameda, New York, San Francisco Bay, Brooklyn, FTX

☆ SBF told Caroline Ellison there was a 5% chance he 'would be president,' she testified
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Grace Kay | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Caroline Ellison said Sam Bankman-Fried had ambitions to become president of the US, The Wall Street Journal reported. She said Bankman-Fried told her there was a 5% chance he'd one day be president. She said the FTX cofounder told her about his plans to potentially become president while they were dating. The FTX cofounder said there was a 5% chance he would one day become the president, The Wall Street Journal reported. A spokesperson for Trump told Insider's Lloyd Lee that SBF has been "outed as a fraudster and someone that can't be trusted."

Persons: Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman, Fried, Ellison, —, Michael Lewis, Donald Trump, Lewis, Insider's Lloyd Lee, SBF Organizations: Street Journal, Bankman, Service, Alameda Research, Republican, Democratic, Trump Locations: United States, Manhattan, FTX, Trump

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried's ex-girlfriend set to take stand as fraud trial's star witness
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Champion Trust Llc FollowNEW YORK, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Sam Bankman-Fried's fraud trial is set to resume on Tuesday with testimony from his former colleagues at the now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange, including his onetime girlfriend Caroline Ellison. Prosecutors said last week they planned to call Ellison, the former co-chief executive officer of Bankman-Fried's Alameda Research hedge fund, to take the stand once Wang finishes his testimony. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan said that likely amounted to witness-tampering, and on Aug. 11 revoked Bankman-Fried's bail. A third former member of Bankman-Fried's inner circle, ex-FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh, is also expected to testify at trial. Reporting by Luc Cohen and Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Eduardo Munoz, Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, Prosecutors, Ellison, Wang, Ellison's, Fried, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Nishad Singh, FTX, Christian Everdell, Mark Cohen, Luc Cohen, Jody Godoy, Noeleen Walder, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Alameda Research, New York Times, U.S, District, Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, Bankman, Alameda, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Alameda, Brooklyn's, Manhattan, Washington ,

Political Cartoons View All 1206 ImagesHe even thought there was a 5% chance he'd become president someday, Ellison said. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon asked her what he thought he'd be president of. Shortly after Ellison’s highly anticipated turn on the witness stand began, she was asked to identify Bankman-Fried in the courtroom. Ellison testified under a cooperation deal that could win her leniency when she is sentenced. As Ellison testified, several of her friends or online fans were in attendance at the courthouse.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, ”, he'd, Danielle Sassoon, ” Ellison, Ellison’s, FTX, Judge Lewis A, Kaplan, Palo, Sassoon, Jane, Bankman, “, Joe Biden, Gary Wang Organizations: Stanford, U.S, Alameda Research, Alameda, Republican Locations: Manhattan, Bankman, United States, Bahamas, Washington, Palo Alto , California, Alameda

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried's risk appetite was so large that he would flip a coin if losing meant destroying the world, Caroline Ellison testified
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Sam Bankman-Fried said he was willing to destroy the world with a coin flip, Caroline Ellison said. Sam Bankman-Fried said he would flip the coin — and urged everyone else to do so, too, Caroline Ellison testified in court Tuesday. Aside from customer funds, Ellison testified in federal court on Tuesday, Alameda made its crypto bets using money from loans. Ellison testified about a point in time in 2021 when Bankman-Fried wanted to spend $3 billion on venture investments. In addition, she said, Alameda Research already had around $2.7 billion in liabilities at the time.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Caroline Ellison, SBF, —, Ellison, Genesis —, Ellison —, Mark Cohen Organizations: Service, Alameda Research Locations: Alameda, FTX

☆ Caroline Ellison is about to spill the beans on her ex-boyfriend Sam Bankman-Fried
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Grace Kay | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Caroline Ellison is set to testify later today in the criminal case against Sam Bankman-Fried. The former Alameda Research CEO is expected to be a key witness in the case against Bankman-Fried. AdvertisementAdvertisementAll eyes will be on star witness Caroline Ellison when she takes the stand later today in the trial against her ex-boyfriend and former boss Sam Bankman-Fried. They say Bankman-Fried siphoned money from customer accounts to fund crypto bets with Alameda Research, a hedge fund he controlled. Since the exchange collapsed, the former FTX CEO has attempted to put the blame for the platform's collapse on other executives, including Ellison.

Persons: Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman, Ellison, —, FTX, Eric Chaffee, Prosecutors, Fried, Mark Cohen, Ellison —, Cohen, BRYAN R, SMITH, Jane Street, Gary Wang —, Wang, Adam Yedidia, Chelsea Jia Feng, Yedidia, Caroline, Lewis Kaplan, who's, Michael Lewis Organizations: Alameda Research, Service, Case Western Reserve University, Manhattan Federal, Bankman, Alameda, Research, New York Times, US Department of Justice, US Locations: Bankman, FTX, Alameda, Bahamas, Manhattan

☆ SBF's lawyers shouldn't be allowed to use his $500 million investment in AI firm Anthropic — which could used to pay back FTX customers — as evidence, prosecutors say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Anthropic looks set to be valued at $30 billion as it is in talks with Google for further investment. Prosecutors argue that the investment can't be used as evidence in Bankman-Fried's favor. AdvertisementAdvertisementProsecutors have asked the judge overseeing Sam Bankman-Fried's trial to stop the FTX founder's lawyers from referencing his $500 million investment in Anthropic. AdvertisementAdvertisementThat means Bankman-Fried's investment could be a major help in reimbursing the thousands of FTX customers who lost their money as the crypto exchange imploded last November. AdvertisementAdvertisementMichael Lewis, who interviewed Bankman-Fried more than 100 times for his biography, wrote that other FTX executives didn't approve of the Anthropic investment.

Persons: FTX, —, Sam Bankman, Lewis Kaplan, Damian Williams, Anthropic, Williams, Fried, Gary Wang, Michael Lewis, Bankman, didn't, Ramnik Arora, Lewis, Sam Organizations: Google, Prosecutors, Service, Amazon Locations: Anthropic, Bankman, Alameda

☆ Caroline Ellison is a math whiz, trader, and shadow figure behind FTX's collapse. She's testifying this week in the criminal trial of her ex-colleague and boyfriend, Sam Bankman-Fried.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | Grace Dean | Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Caroline Ellison was the CEO of Alameda Research, a trading firm launched by Sam Bankman-Fried. She oversaw bets Alameda took with customer funds. AdvertisementAdvertisementAs Sam Bankman-Fried's crypto empire began to unravel last year, his colleague, now 28-year-old Caroline Ellison, emerged as a figure of intrigue and speculation. Now, as the trial of Bankman-Fried enters its second week, Ellison will testify as a key witness. Here's what we know about Caroline Ellison.

Persons: Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman, —, Ellison, FTX, Fried Organizations: Alameda Research, Alameda, Service Locations: Bankman

"Assets were not fine, because FTX did not have enough assets for customer withdrawals." On Friday, Wang testified that on Nov. 6, 2022, FTX executive Nishad Singh knocked on his door and told him customers were trying to withdraw their money faster than FTX could process the transactions. He said no other FTX users had those special privileges, which the exchange did not disclose to its investors or customers. After FTX declared bankruptcy on Nov. 11, 2022, Wang testified that at Bankman-Fried's direction, he turned over some remaining FTX customer assets to the Bahamas, where FTX was based. Wang said Bankman-Fried said liquidators and regulators there were more amenable to letting him stay in charge of FTX.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Nicolas Roos, Gary Wang, Jane Rosenberg, FTX, Wang, FTX's, Nishad Singh, CoinDesk, Bankman, WANG, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Christian Everdell, Caroline Ellison, Alameda's, Mark Cohen, Sam, Jody Godoy, Luc Cohen, David Gregorio, Nick Zieminski, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S, Federal Court, REUTERS, Alameda Research, Washington , D.C, District, Bankman, Thomson Locations: FTX, New York City, U.S, Manhattan, Washington ,, Alameda, Bahamas, Fried, United States, New York

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFTX's Gary Wang tells court Alameda got 'special privileges' to exchange's funds: 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, Paul Tuchmann, former federal prosecutor and partner at Wiggin and Dana, discusses possible defense strategies for Sam Bankman-Fried.

Persons: Gary Wang, Alameda, explainers, Paul Tuchmann, Wiggin, Dana, Sam Bankman Organizations: CNBC Crypto, CNBC

☆ Michael Lewis is hitting back at critics who feel he's been too sympathetic to Sam Bankman-Fried: 'I think they're crazy'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Those who think he was being too sympathetic to Sam Bankman-Fried are "crazy," says author Michael Lewis. AdvertisementAdvertisementAuthor Michael Lewis has a strong message for critics who say he has been too sympathetic to Sam Bankman-Fried in his book about the fallen cyrpto mogul. "I think they're crazy," Lewis told ABC News on Wednesday. Lewis told ABC he has avoided answering the question of whether he feels Bankman-Fried has knowingly committed fraud — "because I want the reader to answer that question." "He took my money, it's mixed up in there," Lewis told ABC, without elaborating further.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Michael Lewis, Lewis, —, Linsey Davis, Fried, CBS's, FTX, it's Organizations: Service, ABC News, ABC, CBS, Alameda Research Locations: Alameda

☆ The same day SBF promised his hedge fund wasn't getting special treatment, FTX gave it an unlimited line of credit — which other customers didn't get
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The same day, the FTX rolled out a feature allowing Alameda to get an unlimited line of credit. Those other accounts signed a line of credit agreement, but Alameda was never required to sign such an agreement, Wang testified. He increased Alameda's line of credit incrementally to a few million, a few hundred million, a billion, and eventually tens of billions. At some point in late 2019 or early 2020, Wang checked Alameda's balance and noticed it was negative. Even doing so, Wang said Alameda's balance was still negative, meaning the money was coming from FTX customers.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, —, FTX, Gary Wang, SBF, Wang, Nishad Singh, Bankman, Caroline Ellison, Sam, FTX's, Adam Yedidia, Yedidia Organizations: Alameda Research, Service, Twitter, Alameda Locations: Alameda, FTX, Manhattan, Bankman, FTT

☆ Key takeaways from Sam Bankman-Fried’s first week in court
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And Alameda was the only FTX customer allowed to carry a negative balance. Christian Everdell and Mark Cohen, attorneys for Sam Bankman-Fried, exit court in New York on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2023. Star witness coming TuesdayCaroline Ellison, Alameda’s CEO and Bankman-Fried’s on-and-off girlfriend, is expected to take the stand when court resumes on Tuesday. Ellison, 28, is considered the prosecution’s star witness, given her position as the head of Alameda and her personal knowledge of Bankman-Fried’s behavior. According to court documents, when one employee asks who made the decision, Ellison responds: “Um … Sam, I guess.”

Persons: Sam Bankman, Gary Wang, Wang, SBF, Mark Cohen, Fried, FTX, Christian Everdell, Stephanie Keith, Everdell, “ FTX, ” Wang, ” FTX, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, Sam Organizations: New, New York CNN, Alameda Research, Bankman, Alameda, Bloomberg, Getty, “ Locations: New York, Alameda

Eventually, the losses at the hedge fund, Alameda Research, became so large that there was no way to hide them any longer, Wang said in his second day of testimony. “FTX was not fine,” Wang said, referring to the now-infamous tweet that Bankman-Fried wrote only a few days before the exchange filed for bankruptcy in November 2022. Alameda was given these privileges initially because the hedge fund was the primary market maker for FTX's customers in the exchange's early days. The relationship was effectively a two-way street, where the exchange could help out the hedge fund and vice versa as FTX quickly grew between 2019 and 2022. Caroline Ellison, the former girlfriend of Bankman-Fried and CEO of Alameda, is expected to start testifying Tuesday after Wang.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, FTX's, Gary Wang, Wang, “ FTX, ” Wang, FTX, Caroline Ellison Organizations: New, Alameda Research, Prosecutors, Bankman Locations: New York, Bahamas, Alameda

Sam Bankman-Fried watches as Assistant U.S. Attorney Thane Rehn makes his opening remark in Bankman-Fried's fraud trial over the collapse of FTX, the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, at Federal Court in New York City, U.S., October 4, 2023 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Sam Bankman-Fried's fraud trial kicked off this week, nearly a year after the FTX cryptocurrency exchange he founded declared bankruptcy in a collapse that shocked markets and left the 31-year-old wunderkind's reputation in tatters. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing billions of dollars in customer funds to prop up his crypto-focused hedge fund, Alameda Research. "Sam and his colleagues were building the plane as they were flying it," Cohen said in his opening statement on Wednesday. "The conversation began with me bringing up the large debt owed by Alameda to FTX and asking something like, 'are things OK?'"

Persons: Sam Bankman, Attorney Thane Rehn, Jane Rosenberg, Fried, Rehn, Mark Cohen, Sam, Cohen, Adam Yedidia, Fried's, Yedidia, Matt Huang, Huang, Gary Huang, Wang, Luc Cohen, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S, Attorney, Federal Court, REUTERS, Alameda Research, Manhattan U.S, ALAMEDA, Paradigm, Thomson Locations: Bankman, FTX, New York City, U.S, Thane, Alameda, New York

Wang, 30, is one of three FTX insiders who have pleaded guilty to fraud charges and entered a cooperation agreement with the government. Wang testified on Thursday that while at FTX, he created software code at the direction of Bankman-Fried that gave "special privileges" to Alameda, allowing it to withdraw unlimited funds. While Wang is the first cooperator to take the stand, jurors have so far heard from three other witnesses. He said Bankman-Fried appeared worried and told him the companies were "not bulletproof" as they had been the year before. Zac Prince, the founder of crypto lender BlockFi, is among the witnesses expected to testify after Wang finishes when the trial resumes next Tuesday.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Eduardo Munoz, Gary Wang, Wang, Fried, FTX, Matt Huang, Adam Yedidia, Zac Prince, Jody Godoy, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Alameda Research, Prosecutors, Alameda, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Alameda, FTX

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