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☆ FTX co-founder Gary Wang agreed to cooperate in Sam Bankman-Fried case in his first meeting with prosecutors: 'I thought I was likely to be charged'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Katie Balevic | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Gary Wang agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in his first meeting with them. "I thought I was likely to be charged and I wanted to get a shorter prison sentence," he testified Friday. AdvertisementAdvertisementOne of his co-conspirators, he said on the witness stand Friday, was his FTX co-founder Bankman-Fried. On Friday, Wang said he wanted to cooperate with prosecutors because he knew what he did at FTX was wrong. "Customers did not agree for us to use their funds," Wang said.

Persons: Gary Wang, Sam Bankman, —, Fried, Wang, FTX, Bankman, Chelsea Jia Feng, he'd Organizations: Service, MIT, Alameda Research, Prosecutors, US, FBI, Alameda Locations: Manhattan, Bankman, FTX, Alameda, Bahamas

☆ Sex, Signal messages and sabotage: SBF's top execs and Bahamas roommates tell all in court
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

"Sam Bankman-Fried," he said. Wang said that in response to the reporting an emergency meeting was called between Bankman-Fried, Wang and Singh, to discuss shutting down Alameda. On Nov. 12, after FTX declared bankruptcy, Bankman-Fried asked Wang to drive with him to the Bahamas Securities Commission for a meeting. Yedidia said Bankman-Fried had told him, before he began working in the Bahamas in 2019, that he and Ellison had sex. Bankman-Fried asked Yedidia if it was a good idea for them to date, to which Yedidia said no.

Persons: Adam Yedidia, Sam Bankman, Jane Rosenberg, —, Gary Wang, Nicolas Roos, Wang, FTX, Nishad Singh, Caroline Ellison, Mr, Roos, Ellison, Fried, Reuters Wang, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Singh, Yedidia, Bankman, Sam, Christian Everdell, he's, I'm, Matt Huang, Yuki Iwamura, Huang, Dawn Giel Organizations: Federal Court, Reuters, MIT, U.S, Alameda Research, District, Prosecutors, Bahamas Securities Commission, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Google, Alameda, United, Paradigm, FTX, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: FTX, New York City, Bahamas, Manhattan, U.S, Alameda, Bahamian, New York, China, Minnesota, FTX's Hong Kong, Nassau, Bankman

☆ FTX Employees Found Alameda’s Secret Backdoor Months Before Collapse
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Alexander Osipovich | Angus Berwick | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/finance/ftx-employees-found-alamedas-secret-backdoor-months-before-collapse-7f983fcd

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Former FTX developer says he confronted an 'anxious' Sam Bankman-Fried on Bahamas paddleball court while trying to fix bug that led to $8 billion hole
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

"The numbers seemed large to me," Yedidia testified Thursday in a federal court in downtown Manhattan. In a hut between paddleball courts, Yedidia expressed his concern to Sam Bankman-Fried, the CEO of FTX, who also controlled Alameda Research. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Sam Bankman-Fried, founder and former CEO of crypto currency exchange FTX in a courtroom last year. AdvertisementAdvertisementFormer FTX developer Adam Yedidia leaves after testifying during the trial of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried at Manhattan Federal Court in New York City. In the Bahamas, top employees and their significant others in both companies shared a $35 million penthouse apartment that Alameda Research paid for.

Persons: Fried, Adam Yedidia, —, Yedidia, FTX, Sam Bankman, Yadidia, Bankman, Jane Rosenberg, Reuters Yedidia, Caroline Ellison, Michael M, Ellison, Gary Wang, Nishad Singh, Singh, Sam, Caroline, I'm Organizations: Alameda Research, Alameda, Service, MIT, rockstar, Reuters, Bankman, Manhattan Federal, FTX, United Arab Locations: Bahamas, Alameda, Manhattan, FTX, Alameda FTX, Bankman, New York City, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

☆ FTX co-founder admits he and Sam Bankman-Fried committed fraud
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —A key witness for prosecutors in the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried testified that both he and Bankman-Fried committed multiple financial crimes related to their oversight of now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX. Gary Wang, who co-founded FTX with Bankman-Fried, told jurors — in compliance with an earlier plea deal — that he was guilty of wire fraud, securities fraud and commodities fraud, and that he committed those crimes under the direction of Bankman-Fried. Alameda’s ‘unlimited’ slush fundUnlike regular customers of FTX — a platform for individual investors and institutions to trade crypto — Alameda was allowed to run a negative balance and make “unlimited withdrawals” from FTX customers, Wang said. In response, “Sam said something like, ‘We were bulletproof last year; we’re not bulletproof this year,’” Yedidia told the jury. The $8 billion represented the money that FTX customers would be owed if they decided to withdraw their deposits, Yedidia said.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Gary Wang, Wang, FTX, haven’t, Mark Cohen, Nicolas Roos, ” Wang, empaneled, ‘, Adam Yedidia, Yedidia, SBF, “ Sam, ’ ” Yedidia, “, Sam, ” Yedidia, MIT undergrads, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Alameda Research, Prosecutors, MIT Locations: New York, Alameda, FTX

NEW YORK, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Sam Bankman-Fried's college roommate and ex-colleague, Gary Wang, testified on Thursday at the FTX cryptocurrency exchange founder's fraud trial that Bankman-Fried told him to give a hedge fund they co-owned special trading privileges on FTX. The special privileges granted to the hedge fund, Alameda Research, included a $65 billion line of credit, several orders of magnitude bigger than the amount other users were able to borrow, he said. He added that Bankman-Fried had directed him to implement the changes giving Alameda special privileges. Wang, 30, is the first of three former close associates of Bankman-Fried to testify at the trial, which began on Tuesday. Wang said Bankman-Fried decided to name the firm Alameda Research because it "makes it easier to do business if the name doesn't mention trading or cryptocurrency."

Persons: Sam Bankman, Gary Wang, Fried, Wang, FTX, FTX's, Mark Cohen, Matt Huang, Huang, Bankman, Nishad Singh, Caroline Ellison, Alameda's, Adam Yedidia, Yedidia, Sam, Joseph Bankman, Barbara Fried, Luc Cohen, Jody Godoy, Amy Stevens, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Alameda Research, Alameda, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Prosecutors, MIT, Stanford Law, Thomson Locations: Alameda, tatters, Manhattan, FTX, China, United States, Bahamas, Yedidia, New York

Prosecutors in the criminal trial against Sam Bankman-Fried shared photos of a condo he once lived in. The condo includes a rooftop pool, a floor-to-ceiling view of the ocean, two spas, and at least six bathrooms. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementProsecutors pointed to Sam Bankman-Fried's lavish lifestyle during the criminal trial against the FTX cofounder, sharing photos of the penthouse condo in the Bahamas Sam Bankman-Fried once lived in, which they claim was worth about $35 million. Take a look inside the condo where Bankman-Fried and his coworkers spent much of their time.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, —, Bahamas Sam Bankman, Lewis Kaplan Organizations: Service, Alameda Research Locations: Bahamas

NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors went to the heart of their case against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried on Thursday as the company's co-founder began his testimony, telling a New York jury that he and Bankman-Fried committed financial crimes and lied to the public before the cryptocurrency trading platform collapsed last year. Bankman-Fried, 31, who has been jailed since August, was brought to the United States from the Bahamas last December after he was charged in Manhattan federal court. Defense lawyers say Bankman-Fried had no criminal intent as he took actions to try to save his businesses after the cryptocurrency market collapsed. The others are Carolyn Ellison, Alameda Research's former chief executive and a former girlfriend of Bankman-Fried, and Nishad Singh, the former engineering director at FTX. He said he lived with Bankman-Fried and other top executives in June or July of 2022 when he told Bankman-Fried one day that he was concerned that Alameda owed FTX a large debt.

Persons: — Prosecutors, Sam Bankman, Fried, Gary Wang, Fried's, Wang, FTX “, ” Wang, Lewis A, Kaplan, Carolyn Ellison, Nishad Singh, Adam Yedidia, Bankman, “ Sam, ” Organizations: —, New, Alameda Research, FTX, Bankman Locations: New York, Alameda, United States, Bahamas, Manhattan, Bankman, Fried, China, Minnesota, FTX

Prosecutors are calling some FTX customers to testify that they were told their assets were safe, and to share how FTX's collapse affected them. "As the crypto market has recovered, many FTX customers are concluding that they can sell their claim, buy crypto again, and do much better than letting their claim depreciate," said Matthew Sedigh, CEO of Xclaim, a bankruptcy claims exchange. Some creditors Reuters interviewed declined to share evidence of their FTX claims because they contained personal information. 'A GREAT SUPPORT'Looking for answers, FTX creditors have created support groups. Xclaim lists over 2,000 FTX claims for sale, worth around $610 million at last November's crypto prices, Sedigh said.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Eduardo Munoz, Lee Rees, FTX, Rees, doesn't, Fried, scammers, Matthew Sedigh, John Ray, Kroll, ”, Maxime, Marc Antoine, Julliard, …, Sunil Kavuri, Kavuri, Sedigh, Luc Cohen, Michelle Price, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Alameda Research, Reuters, FTX, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, London, FTX, Washington

[1/2] Indicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried arrives at the United States Courthouse in New York City, U.S., July 26, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Champion Trust Llc FollowNEW YORK, Oct 4 (Reuters) - The jury for Sam Bankman-Fried's trial on charges of stealing billions of dollars from customers of his now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange was selected on Wednesday, paving the way for opening statements to start soon. Prosecutors and the defense are expected to lay out their cases shortly in opening statements. They are expected to call three former members of Bankman-Fried's inner circle - former Alameda chief executive Caroline Ellison and former FTX executives Nishad Singh and Gary Wang - to testify against him. Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York Editing by Amy Stevens, Matthew Lewis and Nick ZieminskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Amr Alfiky, FTX, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Joseph Bankman, Barbara Fried, Gabriel Bankman, Donald Trump, Anthony Scaramucci, Caroline Ellison, Nishad Singh, Gary Wang, Kaplan, Ellison, Luc Cohen, Amy Stevens, Matthew Lewis, Nick Zieminski Organizations: FTX, United, REUTERS, District, Wednesday, Stanford Business School, North Railroad, Prosecutors, Stanford Law, U.S, Alameda Research, Alameda, Metropolitan Detention, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, York, Manhattan, Brooklyn, New York

☆ Caroline Ellison was 'terrified' of Sam Bankman-Fried when she started working at Alameda
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Caroline Ellison worried she'd made a huge mistake within weeks of starting at Alameda Research. She told Michael Lewis, Sam Bankman-Fried's biographer, that she was "terrified" of the CEO. AdvertisementAdvertisementBefore Caroline Ellison warmed up to dating Sam Bankman-Fried, she was afraid of him. Ellison told Lewis that SBF would say he felt conflicted about having sex with her, yet he would continue to do so before ignoring her for months. Her work at Alameda Research catapulted her into scrutiny when her boss and onetime boyfriend's trading empire imploded.

Persons: Caroline Ellison, she'd, Michael Lewis, Sam Bankman, Ellison, SBF, —, Jane, Lewis, Tara Mac Aulay, Mac Aulay, Fried Organizations: Alameda Research, Service, Bankman, Jane Street, Wall Locations: Alameda

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried's old penthouse roommate insisted on immunity before testifying because he feared he unwittingly facilitated a crime
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Yedidia insisted on immunity to testify because he was worried he may have facilitated a crime. AdvertisementAdvertisementBefore Adam Yedidia could testify against Sam Bankman-Fried at the FTX cofounder's criminal trial, he needed reassurances. AdvertisementAdvertisementThis courtroom sketch shows Adam Yedidia, former FTX and Alameda Research employee and former friend of Sam Bankman-Fried, testifying, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. In 2017, he worked at Alameda Research for two months as a trader before leaving to pursue a PhD. Yedidia said he lived in a $35 million penthouse apartment in the Bahamas, which he said Alameda Research purchased at Bankman-Fried's direction.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Adam Yedidia, Yedidia, —, Fried, Elizabeth Williams, Lewis Kaplan, who's, Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, Prosecutors, Wang, Yedida Organizations: Service, Prosecutors, Alameda Research, AP, MIT Locations: Alameda, Manhattan, FTX, Bankman, Bahamas

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried's trial to resume with jury selection, opening statements
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | 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: +2 min

Indicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried arrives at the United States Courthouse in New York City, U.S., July 26, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Sam Bankman-Fried's trial on charges of stealing billions of dollars from customers of his now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange is set to resume on Wednesday, with the judge aiming to finish selecting a jury and move on to opening statements. That would pave the way for prosecutors and the defense to proceed to opening statements, in which each side would lay out their case. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty and is likely to argue that while he failed to adequately manage risk, he did not steal money. Reuters GraphicsReporting by Luc Cohen in New York Editing by Amy Stevens and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Amr Alfiky, FTX, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Caroline Ellison, Nishad Singh, Gary Wang, Kaplan, Ellison, Luc Cohen, Amy Stevens, Matthew Lewis Organizations: United, REUTERS, District, Prosecutors, U.S, Alameda Research, Alameda, Metropolitan Detention, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Manhattan, Brooklyn, New York

☆ SBF's attorney tried to blame the FTX collapse on the turbulence of cryptocurrency in general
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Lloyd Lee | Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Prosecutors now say that Sam Bankman-Fried committed fraud and conspiracy when he oversaw FTX. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe collapse of FTX in 2022 wasn't the result of fraud or a deliberate scheme to steal from customers; it was just the nature of a volatile cryptocurrency market, Sam Bankman-Fried's attorney argued on Wednesday. His attorney, Mark Cohen, argued during opening statements on Wednesday that Bankman-Fried never intended to defraud anyone or mislead customers to get them to invest in FTX. For the first time since 2021, the crypto market overall was worth less than $1 trillion by June 2022. That kind of turbulence is precisely what can overwhelm burgeoning companies like FTX, Cohen tried to argue.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, SBF, —, Bankman, Mark Cohen, Cohen, Sam, FTX, Sheila Warren, Qiao Wang Organizations: Prosecutors, Service, Alameda Research, Crypto, Innovation, New York Times, Alliance Locations: FTX, Manhattan, Bahamas

Sam Bankman-Fried's lawyer tried to blame Caroline Ellison for FTX's collapse during opening statements. AdvertisementAdvertisementSam Bankman-Fried's defense attorney, Mark Cohen, took aim at the FTX cofounder's ex-girlfriend, Caroline Ellison, during his opening statements in the criminal trial over the collapse of FTX on Wednesday. Bankman-Fried is on trial in Manhattan federal court on charges that he defrauded FTX customers and investors out of billions of dollars. AdvertisementAdvertisementMeanwhile, prosecutor Thane Rehn told the jury that Bankman-Fried stole more than $10 billion from FTX customers, all while telling customers they could access their money at any time. "When customers put money in FTX, he stole it.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Caroline Ellison, —, Mark Cohen, Cohen, Fried, Ellison, Ellison didn't, What's, who'd, Thane Rehn, Rehn Organizations: Service, Alameda Research, New York Times, Reuters Locations: FTX, Alameda, Manhattan

Sam Bankman-Fried Trial appears at Federal Court in New York on Oct. 4th, 2023. Two years later, Julliard stood as the prosecution's first witness in the criminal fraud trial against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who's accused of misusing billions of dollars in client money. He and thousands of other FTX customers were practically wiped out when the exchange went belly up late last year. Allan Joseph Bankman, father of FTX Co-Founder Sam Bankman-Fried, and Barbara Fried, mother of FTX Co-Founder Sam Bankman-Fried, arrive at court in New York, US, on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. WATCH: Sam Bankman-Fried criminal trial begins in New York

Persons: Sam Bankman, Claudia Johnson Marc, Antoine Julliard, Julliard, who's, FTX, Gisele Bündchen, Fried, Jane Rosenberg, Sam, Mark Cohen, Cohen, Attorney Thane, Rehn, Alameda's, Caroline Ellison, Allan Joseph Bankman, Barbara Fried, Stephanie Keith, Ellison's, Sam Trabucco, Trabucco, Rein, Adam Yedidia, Bankman, Yedida, hadn't, Gary Wang Organizations: Court, FTX, Federal Court, Reuters Defense, Alameda Research, Bankman, Assistant U.S, Attorney, Capitol, U.S, Bloomberg, Getty, MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Prosecutors Locations: New York, London, Manhattan, FTX, New York City, U.S, Alameda, Attorney Thane Rehn, Rehn

In his opening statement, Rehn said Bankman-Fried used more than $10 billion in FTX customer funds to amass his own wealth, power and influence. But Rehn said FTX collapsed because of Bankman-Fried's plundering of FTX customer cash. According to prosecutors, Bankman-Fried installed Ellison, his sometime romantic partner, as a "front" to lead Alameda in 2021. "In reality he was still calling the shots at Alameda," Rehn said. But Bankman-Fried's lawyer said that handing over the reins was normal as FTX grew and took up his time.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Attorney Thane Rehn, Jane Rosenberg REFILE, Fried, Thane Rehn, Mark Cohen, Rehn, Cohen, Zhao, FTX, duping, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, Jody Godoy, Luc Cohen, Amy Stevens, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S, Attorney, Federal Court, REUTERS, Alameda Research, Alameda, Bankman, Thomson Locations: Bankman, FTX, New York City, U.S, Bahamas, Alameda, New York

NEW YORK (AP) — The final stages of jury selection resumed Wednesday at the fraud trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried in New York City. Opening statements were expected to begin by the early afternoon in Manhattan federal court, where Bankman-Fried has entered not guilty pleas to seven charges. Prosecutors say the California man defrauded thousands of investors and customers in his businesses by siphoning off their money for his own uses. Defense lawyers insist that their client had no criminal intent as he became famous in the crypto world while growing FTX and a related business, Alameda Research, into multibillion dollar heavyweights in the cryptocurrency industry. Originally under house arrest for nearly eight months, his $250 million bond was revoked and he was jailed in August after a judge concluded he’d tried to influence trial witnesses.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Judge Lewis A, Kaplan, FTX, ”, he’d Organizations: Prosecutors, Alameda Research Locations: New York City, Manhattan, California, Alameda, United States, Bahamas

☆ Notoriously scruffy Sam Bankman-Fried gets a makeover for his criminal trial with a new haircut and suit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sam Bankman-Fried reportedly got a haircut from a fellow inmate for the first day of his criminal trial. The disgraced crypto entrepreneur is famous for his messy hair and casual dress sense. AdvertisementAdvertisementSam Bankman-Fried is famous for his unkempt curls and casual dress sense – but for the first day of his criminal trial in court, he brushed up his image. Bankman-Fried reportedly entered the courtroom with a new close-cut haircut and a freshly-pressed suit, according to CNBC. Sam Bankman-Fried is famous for his casual dress sense.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, SBF, —, Caroline Ellison, Gary Wong, FTX's, Lam Yik, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Anthony Scaramucci Organizations: Service, CNBC, Alameda Research, Bloomberg, Getty, British Locations: Brooklyn, Alameda, Bahamas

☆ In his first job, Sam Bankman-Fried designed a system that called Trump's 2016 win before major news outlets — but the firm still lost $300 million on election night
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sam Bankman-Fried was paid $300,000 in his first year at Jane Street Capital, per Michael Lewis' biography. But the firm bet several billion dollars against the S&P 500 which actually rallied, so it lost $300 million. The most dramatic moment was in the Florida panhandle, which Jane Street called five minutes before CNN, Lewis wrote. "What had been a $300 million profit for Jane Street was a now a $300 million loss," Bankman-Fried told Lewis. Bankman-Fried's spokesperson and Jane Street didn't immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment, sent outside US working hours.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Michael Lewis, SBF, —, Jane, Jane Street's, Donald Trump, Lewis, Jane Street, Jane Street didn't Organizations: Jane, Capital, CNN, Service, MIT, Alameda Research, Trump Locations: Florida

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried trial: A jury has been selected and opening statements will soon begin
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A jury was selected in Sam Bankman-Fried's criminal trial on Wednesday. The FTX cofounder is facing seven charges of fraud over the collapse of his cryptocurrency exchange. AdvertisementAdvertisementOpening statements are set to begin Wednesday after a jury was chosen to hear the fraud trial of FTX cofounder Sam Bankman-Fried in New York City. The jury was expected to sit through the duration of a trial projected to last up to six weeks. Some of Bankman-Fried's close associates are expected to testify in the trial, including FTX cofounder Gary Wang and former Alameda Research CEO and Bankman-Fried's on-and-off again girlfriend, Caroline Ellison.

Persons: Sam Bankman, —, Judge Lewis A, Kaplan, Gary Wang, Caroline Ellison, Bankman, Fried, FTX, he'd, Grace Kay Organizations: Service, Alameda Research Locations: New York City, Bahamas, California, Alameda, United States

☆ Taylor Swift wanted to cut a multimillion-dollar deal with SBF's FTX but he 'dragged his feet' on the collaboration, author Michael Lewis says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Taylor Swift wanted to take up FTX endorsement deal, says author Michael Lewis. But Lewis said negotiations fell through after Sam Bankman-Fried "dragged his feet on the deal." Lewis wrote about FTX's talks with Swift in his new book on the rise and fall of the company. AdvertisementAdvertisementTaylor Swift may have signed an endorsement deal with FTX if not for Sam Bankman-Fried delaying the deal, per author Michael Lewis's latest book on the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange. "FTX had an agreement with Swift to pay her between $25 and $30 million a year, but Sam dragged his feet on the deal," Lewis wrote.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Michael Lewis, Lewis, Sam Bankman, FTX's, Swift, —, Michael Lewis's, FTX, Sam, Natalie Tien, Taylor, Fried, Tom Brady, Naomi Osaka, Adam Moskowitz, Moskowitz Organizations: Service, Bankman, NFL Locations: Alameda

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried said he had to teach himself human facial expressions, like smiling
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Kylie Kirschner | Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sam Bankman-Fried had to teach himself how to make facial expressions, Michael Lewis writes in his new book. The FTX cofounder questioned the whole point of making facial expressions in the first place, Lewis said. "One is facial expressions. Lewis writes that Bankman-Fried questioned the entire premise behind making facial expressions entirely: "What's the whole point of making facial expressions in the first place? AdvertisementAdvertisementBankman-Fried apparently found comfort at math camp, where "people didn't seem to care about his lack of facial expressions," and with childhood friend Matt Nass, who "didn't need Sam to generate facial expressions or ask him questions about himself."

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Michael Lewis, Lewis, FTX, —, Matt Nass, Sam, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, JANE ROSENBERG Organizations: Service, Alameda Research, Bankman, Reuters Locations: New York, FTX, Bahamas

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto empire was ‘built on lies,’ US prosecutor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —In their opening statements to a newly sworn-in jury in Manhattan federal court, lawyers laid out previews of their cases, offering two divergent narratives for the collapse of Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto empire. The US government has charged Bankman-Fried with multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy, following the implosion of his crypto-trading platform, FTX, last year. But as his own lawyer, Mark Cohen, stepped up to speak, Bankman-Fried’s demeanor softened and his focus shifted to the jury box. “Sam didn’t defraud anyone,” he told jurors, arguing that his client acted in good faith throughout the rise and fall of his startups. Legal experts say Bankman-Fried’s lawyers have their work cut out for them.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Thane Rehn, ” Rehn, Fried, “, ”, Elizabeth Williams, Rehn, Mark Cohen, Cohen, Sam didn’t, Sam, ” Cohen, FTX’s, FTX, “ It’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Prosecutors Locations: New York, Manhattan, Bahamas

REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Champion Trust Llc FollowNEW YORK, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Sam Bankman-Fried's father and brother, as well as Donald Trump's former spokesman Anthony Scaramucci, are among possible witnesses at the cryptocurrency exchange founder's fraud trial, according to a list read by a prosecutor in court on Tuesday. There is no guarantee that Scaramucci, Bankman-Fried's father Joseph Bankman or his brother Gabriel Bankman-Fried will testify during the trial, which is expected to last six weeks and kicked off on Tuesday with jury selection. Prosecutor Danielle Sassoon read the list of dozens of names - which included both proposed prosecution and defense witnesses - to see if any prospective jurors knew them. Scaramucci's alternative investment firm SkyBridge Capital once owned a stake in FTX, Bankman-Fried's cryptocurrency exchange which declared bankruptcy in November 2022 amid a flurry of customer withdrawals. The now-bankrupt fund is fully owned by Bankman-Fried and former FTX executive Gary Wang, court filings show.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Christian Everdell, Jane Rosenberg, Donald Trump's, Anthony Scaramucci, Joseph Bankman, Gabriel Bankman, Danielle Sassoon, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Bankman, Kaplan, Gary Wang, Nicolas Roos, Caroline Ellison, Nishad Singh, Ellison, Jody Godoy, Luc Cohen, Amy Stevens, Lincoln, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Federal Court, REUTERS, SkyBridge, Alameda Research, District, Insight Partners, Bankman, Manhattan U.S, Thomson Locations: FTX, New York City, U.S, Alameda, Alameda ., New York

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