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☆ Crypto’s 2023 was marred by fraud and scandal. It was its best year ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-24 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Crypto’s 14th year in existence was one marred by scandal, bankruptcy, fraud and regulatory squabbling. Bitcoin, the crypto’s bellwether asset, is up 160% for the year. “It was the year of crypto’s resiliency,” Kyla Curley, a crypto expert and partner at global advisory StoneTurn, tells CNN. “Fraud is fraud,” Curley says, “Regardless of the technology or the industry … you cannot stop human nature. Adding to that bullish sentiment: the bitcoin halving, or, more menacingly, “the halvening.”While it’s often a buy-the-hype-sell-the-news kind of event, the halving does tend to push bitcoin higher.

Persons: New York CNN —, “, ”, Sam Bankman, Zhao, Alex Mashinsky, Heather “ Razzlekhan ” Morgan, Ilya Lichtenstein, ‘, Bonnie, Clyde ’, Bitcoin, crypto’s, ” Kyla Curley, ” Curley, Changpeng Zhao, Eduardo Munoz, Costas Baltas, Faryar Shirzad, bitcoin, ” Antoni Trenchev, ” Trenchev, Warren Buffett, Anthony Scaramucci, “ Bitcoin Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York CNN — Crypto’s, CNN, Department of Justice, crypto’s, grifters, Bitcoiners, SkyBridge Locations: New York, SBF, Bitcoin

The FTX founder was convicted on fraud and conspiracy charges, and faces up to 110 years in prison. Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, who have both taught at Stanford Law, are tied up in the FTX scandal. As the jury announced the verdict, Barbara Fried, Bankman-Fried's mother, seemed to fight back tears. As the courtroom cleared out, Bankman-Fried's parents stood and embraced. Bankman-Fried's parents, both longtime Stanford law professors, were caught up in the FTX scandal.

Persons: Sam, Bankman, Joseph Bankman, Barbara Fried, —, Sam Bankman, Joe Bankman, Fried, FTX Organizations: Stanford Law, Service, Alameda Research, Stanford, FTX, Bankman, San Francisco Bay Area Locations: Manhattan, FTX, The Bahamas, San Francisco Bay

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried's parents are embroiled in the crypto exchange's troubles. Here's what we know about the Stanford Law professors.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Grace Dean | Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

FTX has sued Sam Bankman-Fried's parents, seeking to recover millionsBarbara Fried and Joseph Bankman. Michael M. Santiago/Getty ImagesFTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried has been embroiled in legal troubles since the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange in November. Now, Bankman-Friend's parents — longtime Stanford law professors Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried — are caught up in FTX's troubles too. The complaint filed in the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange's bankruptcy case in Delaware seeks to recover some damages from Bankman and Fried. Legal representatives for Bankman and Fried did not immediately to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: FTX, Sam Bankman, Barbara Fried, Joseph Bankman, Michael M, Fried, —, Barbara Fried —, Joe, Barbara Organizations: Stanford, FTX, Bankman, Associated Press Locations: Bahamas, Delaware

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried's dad emailed his son that he didn't know 'what to say' after finding he'd be paid $200,000 instead of $1 million by FTX — then looped in SBF's mom, lawsuit claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sam Bankman-Fried's dad was not happy about his $200,000 salary at now-bankrupt crypto firm FTX, a lawsuit claims. In emails cited in the lawsuit, Joseph Bankman said he believed he would be paid $1 million by FTX. He then looped in Barbara Fried, his partner and Bankman-Fried's mom. Bankman and Fried enjoyed the benefits of more than $90,000 in expenses, paid for by FTX Trading, for their Bahamas residence." FTX group and Bankman-Fried's trading firm Alameda Research filed for bankruptcy in November 2022 with the founder stepping down from his role as CEO.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Joseph Bankman, Barbara Fried, FTX, Bankman, Fried, Gee, Sam, Barbara, Sean Heckler, Michael Tremonte, Joe Organizations: FTX, Service, Alameda Ltd, Stanford University, Alameda Research Locations: Wall, Silicon, FTX, Alameda, Bahamas

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried's parents are accused of siphoning millions of dollars from FTX
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Will Gendron | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The fallout of FTX's implosion continues, with Sam Bankman-Fried's parents now facing a lawsuit. Barbara Fried and Allan Joseph Bankman were accused of siphoning millions of dollars from the firm. FTX entered bankruptcy in November when the global exchange ran out of money after the equivalent of a bank run. "And together, Bankman and Fried siphoned millions of dollars out of the FTX Group for their own personal benefit and their chosen pet causes." Mr. Ray and his massive team of lawyers, who are collectively running up countless millions of dollars in fees while returning relatively little to FTX clients, know better."

Persons: Sam Bankman, Barbara Fried, Allan Joseph Bankman, SBF's, FTX, Fried, Bankman, John Ray III, Joe, Barbara, Ray Organizations: Service, FTX, Stanford University, Alameda Research, Stanford, FTX Group, Bankman Locations: Wall, Silicon, Bahamas, Delaware, Manhattan, Alameda, FTX, Brooklyn

FTX entered bankruptcy in November when the global exchange ran out of money after the equivalent of a bank run. Several other former FTX executives have pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges and are cooperating with investigators. The scheme involved Bankman-Fried receiving a loan from Alameda, then transferring the money to his parents. According to FEC records, Singh contributed roughly $9.7 million in 2022 and in late 2020 to various candidates and committees. The judge revoked Bankman-Fried’s bail last month after finding probable cause that he had tampered with witnesses.

Persons: Sam Bankman, ”, Allan Joseph Bankman, Barbara Fried, FTX, Fried, Bankman, ’, “ Bankman, John Ray III, Joe, Barbara, Ray, “ Fried, Nishad Singh, ” Singh, Singh, Ryan Salame Organizations: —, FTX, Stanford University, Alameda Research, Stanford, FTX Group, Bankman, FEC, FTX Digital Markets Locations: Del, Bahamas, Delaware, Manhattan, Alameda, FTX

The prosecutors wrote to U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan on Thursday referencing a New York Times article titled "Inside the Private Writings of Caroline Ellison, Star Witness in the FTX Case". Ellison led Bankman-Fried's Alameda Research hedge fund and has pleaded guilty to defrauding investors and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. In December, Bankman-Fried said he and Ellison had been in a relationship but gave no further details. Neither New York Times nor Ellison's lawyers responded to Reuters' requests for comment. The prosecutors argued that by sharing these documents, Bankman-Fried was trying to malign Ellison's credibility, and that such conduct could chill witnesses from testifying and taint the jury pool.

Persons: Sam Bankman, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, Fried, Prosecutors, Bankman, FTX, Shubham Kalia, Gokul, Jonathan Stempel, Sam Holmes Organizations: U.S, District, New York Times, Star, Alameda Research, FTX Trading, Thomson Locations: Bankman, Alameda, Bengaluru, New York

July 20 (Reuters) - FTX Trading on Thursday sued founder Sam Bankman-Fried and other former executives of the cryptocurrency exchange, seeking to recoup more than $1 billion they allegedly misappropriated before FTX went bankrupt. FTX is now led by John Ray, who helped manage Enron after the energy trader's 2001 bankruptcy. FTX said Bankman-Fried and Wang also misappropriated $546 million to buy shares of Robinhood Markets (HOOD.O), while Ellison used $28.8 million to pay herself bonuses. The case is FTX Trading Ltd et al v Bankman-Fried et al, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware, No. The main bankruptcy case is In re FTX Trading Ltd et al in the same court, No.

Persons: Sam Bankman, FTX, Caroline Ellison, Gary, Wang, Nishad Singh, Fried, John Ray, Ellison, Singh, Jonathan Stempel, Mike Scarcella, Leslie Adler Organizations: Alameda Research, Enron, U.S, Robinhood, Bankruptcy, District of, FTX, bk, Thomson Locations: Delaware, Alameda, U.S, District, District of Delaware, New York

SummaryLaw Firms FTX founder allegedly misappropriated customer funds for European acquisitionFTX failed to find a buyer for the company in bankruptcy saleNEW YORK, July 13 (Reuters) - Bankrupt crypto exchange FTX sued insiders at FTX Europe AG late Wednesday, seeking to recover $323 million that FTX had invested in an ill-fated expansion into European crypto markets. After FTX filed for bankruptcy in November, it sought to sell FTX Europe, only to conclude that no buyer would offer meaningful value for the company, according to FTX. FTX acquired Digital Assets for nearly $400 million in three transactions in 2020 and 2021, hoping to obtain regulatory approvals and expand into European markets. FTX filed for bankruptcy protection in November, saying it was unable to completely repay customers who had deposited funds on its exchange. Prosecutors have charged Bankman-Fried, 31, with stealing billions of dollars in FTX customer funds to cover losses at its affiliated hedge fund Alameda Research.

Persons: FTX, Sam Bankman, Patrick Gruhn, Robin Matzke, Brandon Williams, Cosima Capital, Williams, Fried, Gruhn, Steven Holley, Stephen Ehrenberg, Brian Glueckstein, Christopher Dunne of Sullivan, Cromwell, Read, Clinton, Dietrich Knauth Organizations: FTX, AG, DA AG, Assets, Matzke, Gruhn, Prosecutors, Alameda Research, Trading, Bankruptcy, District of, Cromwell LLP, Thomson Locations: Zurich, Switzerland, Europe, Delaware, Matzke, Oregon, Alameda, U.S, District of Delaware

CompaniesCompanies Law Firms FTX Trading Limited FollowNEW YORK, June 23 (Reuters) - A group of media organizations on Friday appealed a court decision that allows collapsed crypto exchange FTX to keep customer names secret during its bankruptcy case. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge John Dorsey in Wilmington, Delaware, ruled earlier this month that FTX did not have to reveal its customers' names because doing so could expose them to identity theft and other scams. After the judge in the Celsius case ordered customers' names be revealed, Celsius users saw an increase in phishing attacks from scammers who posed as bankruptcy attorneys and Celsius employees, according to FTX's court filings. FTX said it had approximately 9 million users who might be targeted by scams if their names were revealed. FTX Trading and more than 100 affiliates in November filed for bankruptcy protection in Delaware to address claims that the company misused and lost billions in customers' crypto deposits.

Persons: John Dorsey, FTX, Dorsey's, scammers, Sam Bankman, Fried, Dietrich Knauth, Alexia Garamfalvi, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Bloomberg, Dow Jones & Company, The New York Times Company, Financial, Thomson Locations: Wilmington , Delaware, Delaware

NEW YORK, June 9 (Reuters) - Bankrupt crypto exchange FTX received court permission on Friday to remove customer names from all filings in its bankruptcy case, persuading a U.S. judge that publishing the names would put people at risk of scams and identity theft. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge John Dorsey in Wilmington, Delaware, ruled that FTX can permanently redact the names of individual customers from its bankruptcy filings, after hearing testimony that publishing customers' names would place them at risk even if other identifying information like their email address was kept secret. In January, Dorsey had allowed FTX to keep secret the names of 9 million of its individual customers for three months. On Friday, Dorsey also authorized FTX to remove the names of companies and institutional investors from its customer lists on a temporary basis, saying FTX will have to make a new request in 90 days. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried and several company insiders have been indicted on fraud charges for their role in the company's collapse.

Persons: FTX, John Dorsey, Dorsey, liquidators, Sam Bankman, Dietrich Knauth, Alexia Garamfalvi, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: YORK, FTX's, Bahamian, FTX, Thomson Locations: U.S, Wilmington , Delaware, Bahamas, Delaware

Dorsey questioned the value of a Bahamian court ruling during a Thursday court hearing in Wilmington, Delaware, saying that he would retain authority over the $7 billion in assets recovered by the U.S. debtors no matter what the Bahamian court rules. "It doesn't go to FTX Digital until I say it goes to FTX Digital," Dorsey said. The sides offered very different descriptions of how important FTX Digital was to the crypto exchange's operations. A court ruling in their favor could place the Bahamian company, and not the U.S. debtors, in charge of collecting assets and deciding how to distribute them to FTX customers. The case is FTX Trading, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, No.

Persons: John Dorsey, Dorsey, Chris Shore, Sam Bankman, Bankman, Fried's, Andy Dietderich, Brian Glueckstein, James Bromley of Sullivan, Cromwell, Chris Shore of, FTX, Dietrich Knauth Organizations: U.S, FTX's U.S, FTX Digital, FTX, Bahamian, Bankruptcy, District of, Chris Shore of White, Thomson, & & $ Locations: Delaware, Bahamas, Wilmington , Delaware, U.S, Hong Kong, District of Delaware

CompaniesCompanies Law Firms FTX Trading Limited FollowMay 31 (Reuters) - Sam Bankman-Fried is seeking documents from a law firm that advised his defunct FTX cryptocurrency exchange, saying in a court filing that they could help him beat fraud charges. The former crypto mogul said the documents could prove that he relied on legal advice from Silicon Valley law firm Fenwick & West and did not believe he was breaking the law. Manhattan federal prosecutors must prove he knew his conduct was illegal. Bankman-Fried, the 31-year-old founder of now-defunct FTX Trading, has pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court to 13 counts of fraud, conspiracy, illegal campaign contributions and foreign bribery. Prosecutors allege Bankman-Fried stole billions of dollars in customer funds to plug losses in his hedge fund Alameda Research, which collapsed along with FTX last year after its risky cryptocurrency bets backfired.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Fenwick, FTX, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, ”, “ meritless ”, Palo, Jack Queen Organizations: West, Prosecutors, Alameda Research, U.S, District, Thomson Locations: Silicon Valley, Manhattan, Palo Alto , California, Bahamas

☆ Failed crypto exchange FTX's spectacular collapse was due to 'hubris, incompetence, and greed,' says first debtors' report
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

On Sunday, its debtors released their first report on the collapse of the crypto exchange. The report alleged a lack of controls including in management, governance, and accounting. Read further for the three key allegations from the debtors' report. The report alleged the management and governance of FTX were largely limited to Bankman-Fried, Singh, and Wang. The report also alleged FTX failed to put in place "basic, widely accepted" security controls to safeguard its crypto assets.

Companies FTX Trading Limited FollowMarch 20 (Reuters) - Bankrupt crypto exchange FTX on Sunday sued the liquidators overseeing the wind-down of its Bahamian affiliate FTX Digital Markets, accusing them of wrongly claiming ownership of the exchange's assets. FTX called FTX DM a "fraudulent enterprise", initially set up only to be a "local service company", which did not own the FTX.com exchange or any of the cryptocurrency seized. FTX has been at odds with Bahamian officials ever since filing for bankruptcy protection on Nov. 11. The Securities Commission of the Bahamas began liquidation proceedings against FTX DM a day before the U.S. bankruptcy filing of FTX Trading and more than 100 affiliates, and the two sides have sparred over ownership of FTX assets and access to company data. FTX reported this month that Bankman-Fried took $2.2 billion in funds from the company during a period when the crypto exchange lost $8 billion of customer money.

☆ More pain for the crypto industry means a chance for startups to pivot
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

After an awful 2022 that saw one of the industry's high-profile figures implode, the crypto market is looking for a bounceback. McDermott laid out to Insider's Bianca Chan and Dakin Campbell how tough times for crypto startups mean more realistic valuations and, in some cases, a reevaluation of the business model. Once of the most common critiques I hear about crypto is "It's a solution looking for a problem." The most recent crypto winter could force startups to be a bit more pragmatic about the specific problem they are looking to address. "If you can solve fraud in crypto, you can solve fraud in basically any part of finance," Meier told Insider.

☆ Anthony Scaramucci's SkyBridge Capital limited redemptions as bets on FTX and crypto resulted in a 39% loss last year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Anthony Scaramucci's SkyBridge Capital suffered a 39% loss in its top funds in 2022, according to Bloomberg. That's due to losing bets on FTX and cryptocurrencies, pushing investors to pull their money out. SkyBridge investors asked to withdraw 60% of a top fund's capital in the September 30 redemption period, but it only returned 10%. SkyBridge investors asked to withdraw 60% of the top fund's capital in the September 30 redemption period, but it only returned 10%, according to filings cited by Bloomberg. Additionally, SkyBridge funds were listed as owning 244,196 common shares and 61,049 Series B-1 Preferred shares of FTX Trading.

☆ Voyager gets initial approval for $1 bln Binance deal amid national security concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Dietrich Knauth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Jan 10 (Reuters) - Bankrupt crypto lender Voyager Digital received initial court approval on Tuesday for a proposed $1 billion sale of its assets to Binance.US, and said it will seek to expedite a U.S. national security review of the deal. He said Voyager intends to address any issues that would lead CFIUS to oppose the transaction. The Binance transaction includes a $20 million cash payment and an agreement to transfer Voyager's customers to Binance.US's crypto exchange, Sussberg said. Voyager estimates the sale will allow customers to recover 51% of the value of their deposits at the time of Voyager's bankruptcy filing. In addition to CFIUS, Voyager's proposed sale was also opposed by the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission and state securities regulators.

☆ Voyager seeks to expedite national security review of Binance deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Dietrich Knauth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 10 (Reuters) - Bankrupt crypto lender Voyager Digital is working to expedite a U.S. national security review that could delay or block its proposed $1 billion sale of its assets to Binance.US, its attorneys said on Tuesday. He said Voyager intends to address any risk that CFIUS would oppose the transaction. The Binance transaction includes a $20 million cash payment and an agreement to transfer Voyager's customers to Binance.US's crypto exchange, Sussberg said. If CFIUS blocks the transaction, Voyager will be forced to repay customers with the crypto it has on hand, resulting in a lower payout for Voyager users, Sussberg said. Binance.US, based in Palo Alto, California, has said that its separate American exchange is "fully independent" of the main Binance platform.

☆ FTX bankruptcy documents show list of investors set to be completely wiped out, including Tom Brady and Robert Kraft
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

FTX released a list of its equity holders on Monday as it continues to navigate the bankruptcy process. Some of the top holders of FTX equity included in the list are Tom Brady, Robert Kraft, and Gisele Bündchen. The FTX shares owned by Brady, Kraft, and Bündchen are expected to be worthless. Billionaire Robert Kraft, who owns the New England Patriots football team, was also listed in the FTX bankruptcy document. Other investors on FTX's equity-holder list include Wall Street's elite hedge funds and growth investors, according to the bankruptcy document.

☆ Who is DCG's Barry Silbert, the crypto baron in the crosshairs of the Winklevoss twins over 'bad faith' business practices?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Barry Silbert is the CEO of Digital Currency Group, the crypto conglomerate that owns Genesis and Grayscale. In 2015, the 46 year old started Digital Currency Group (DCG), the $10 billion parent company that controls industry giants like crypto brokerage Genesis and digital asset manager Grayscale. The conglomerate also owns trade publication Coindesk, crypto mining firm Foundry Services, crypto index provider TradeBlock, and digital asset platform Luno Global. Cameron Winklevoss blasted Silbert for "bad faith" business practices last week, alleging the crypto baron owes the digital asset exchange's customers $900 million. Prior to launching DCG, Silbert went to Emory University's Goizueta Business School and began his career as an investment banker at Houlihan Lokey.

☆ Genesis owner DCG has closed its wealth management unit as the crypto giant battles a stream of troubles
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Zahra Tayeb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Crypto giant Digital Currency Group has shut its wealth management unit, reports said Thursday. DCG's crypto businesses include financial services provider Greyscale, in addition to embattled broker Genesis and wealth manager HQ. Troubles have been mounting at DCG subsidiaries after leading crypto exchange FTX's collapse, which shook faith in the crypto industry. Its crypto-lending unit reported it had $2.8 billion in total active loans as of the third quarter of 2022. Meanwhile, DCG is entangled in a tussle with Gemini over $900 million its Genesis businesses borrowed from the crypto exchange's customers.

Jan 6 (Reuters) - FTX's U.S.-based bankruptcy team have agreed to coordinate with liquidators winding down the crypto exchange's operations in the Bahamas, resolving a dispute that threatened the recovery of what could be billions of dollars in lost funds. FTX’s U.S. bankruptcy team has been at odds with Bahamian officials since November, when competing bankruptcies were filed in the two countries. The Securities Commission of the Bahamas began liquidation proceedings on Nov. 10 against FTX Digital Markets Ltd., the company's Bahamas-based unit. The next day a U.S. Chapter 11 proceeding was filed in Delaware, which included more than 100 FTX entities including FTX Trading and crypto hedge fund Alameda Research. Bahamian regulators have seized FTX assets, which officials said was meant to safeguard assets that will ultimately be returned to creditors of FTX Digital Markets.

☆ U.S. review could delay or block Binance deal for Voyager Digital
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Dietrich Knauth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 30 (Reuters) - Binance's $1 billion acquisition of bankrupt crypto lender Voyager Digital could be delayed or blocked by a U.S. national security review, according to a Friday bankruptcy court filing. The crypto exchange's U.S.-based affiliate Binance.US intends to buy Voyager's crypto lending platform with a bid that includes $20 million in cash and crypto assets that will be used to repay Voyager's customers. Attorneys for Voyager and Binance.US did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday. Binance.US, based in Palo Alto, California, has said that its separate American exchange is "fully independent" of the main Binance platform. Voyager filed for bankruptcy in July, months after the crash of major crypto tokens TerraUSD and Luna sent shockwaves across the digital asset industry.

☆ The Winklevoss twins and their cryptocurrency exchange Gemini are being sued for fraud by investors
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Crypto exchange Gemini is facing a class action lawsuit over its interest-bearing accounts. Investors are accusing Gemini — along with founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss — of fraud, per a complaint filed on Tuesday. Gemini's Earn Program attracted customers because it offered up to 7.4% interest. Gemini Earn Program, which offered customers up to 7.4% interest, abruptly halted its offering last month, "effectively wiping out" customers who still had holdings in the program. Gemini "refused to honor any further investor redemptions, effectively wiping out all investors who still had holdings in the program," the complaint reads.

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