The second week of Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial was a real rollercoaster of emotions and controversies. Both in the world of cryptocurrencies and beyond, this trial is attracting enormous media and investor interest. Over the past few days, many revelations have come to light that shed light on the actions of the former CEO of FTX. Between allegations of bribes to Chinese officials and balance sheet manipulations, there are threads that are of significant importance to the cryptocurrency world.
Sam Bankman-Fried considered closing the Alameda Research hedge fund
During the trial, an unpublished blog post surfaced in which Sam Bankman-Fried expressed concern about “unfair market practices” and excessive risk associated with the Alameda Research fund. This confession may shed new light on his actions and decisions over the past few years.
Balance sheet manipulations – allegations by Caroline Ellison
Sam Bankman-Fried’s former life partner, Caroline Ellison, testified that Alameda deliberately manipulated its balance sheet under pressure from SBF to appear “less risky to investors.” These damning allegations cast a shadow over the fund’s integrity. Ellison broke down in tears, recounting turbulent days leading up to the collapse of FTX when it became clear that the exchange could not cover all necessary customer withdrawals. It is worth noting that both Ellison and FTX co-founder Gary Wang entered into an agreement with the US Department of Justice, guaranteeing them reduced penalties for their crimes.
Negligence or orders? – Caroline Ellison’s responsibility
SBF’s defenders argue that Ellison, as Sam Bankman-Fried’s former partner, neglected the Alameda fund under her jurisdiction, ignoring instructions to secure the fund against market downturns. This dispute over responsibility could impact the final verdict.
Contacts with Prince Salman
Caroline Ellison’s testimony revealed that Sam Bankman-Fried was in contact with Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to secure FTX’s losses before declaring bankruptcy. The Saudi prince’s involvement could shed light on desperate attempts to salvage the situation.
Attempt to bribe Chinese officials
According to Caroline Ellison’s testimony, Alameda attempted to bribe Chinese Communist Party officials to release frozen funds on the Huobi and OKX exchanges. Although these allegations were withdrawn from the record, they still cast a shadow on the ethics of Alameda’s operations.
Secrecy culture in the cryptocurrency world
Testimonies revealed that Sam Bankman-Fried and his associates promoted a culture of secrecy, using encrypted messengers and face-to-face meetings. This approach has stirred controversy and may influence the final outcome of the trial.
Security and the FTX hack
Inadequate security measures on the FTX exchange could result in the massive losses suffered in a hacking attack last year. This is an important aspect of the trial that highlights the need to safeguard investors’ assets on cryptocurrency exchanges.
Links to cybercriminal groups
Hackers responsible for the $400 million attack on FTX have been linked to Russian cybercriminal groups. According to the cryptocurrency analysis firm Elliptic, 65,000 ETH ($100 million) of stolen funds were transferred to the Bitcoin blockchain using the RenBridge service. The perpetrators remain unknown, with suspicions pointing to both FTX employees and the North Korean hacker group Lazarus.
Management and billion-dollar losses
Testimonies from an Alameda Research employee revealed that the fund lost at least $200 million due to poor management. Among other things, $100 million was lost due to a false phishing link in Google Ads. It was also revealed that FTX stored cryptocurrency keys in plain text in an easily accessible file.
Audit difficulties
Caroline Ellison testified that Alameda had difficulties conducting audits of its operations. The company attempted to hire accountants in 2021-2022, but they “could not or would not do it” after reviewing the financial records.
The second week of Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial brings more elements to the complex puzzle that will determine his future. The cryptocurrency world eagerly awaits more surprising information and developments in this highly important case. The final verdict will have a significant impact on the entire cryptocurrency industry and its participants.
Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash
