Sam Bankman-Fried Claims FTX Was Solvent Before Collapse
Sam Bankman-fried, the former FTX founder, declared his innocence in a recent jail interview. Conducted by AR Hoffman of The New York Sun, the conversation took place at Manhattan Detention Center on February 18. Bankman-Fried, who is serving a 25-year sentance for fraud, insisted that FTX was financially stable in November 2022.
He argued, “There were enough assets to repay all customers fully.” Bankman-Fried blamed law firm Sullivan & Cromwell for the company’s downfall. He also expressed regret for not standing his ground in November 2022.
During the interview, Bankman-Fried accused Judge Kaplan of bias. He claimed that Kaplan allowed the prosecution to mislead the jury about customer losses. Bankman-Fried is now seeking a pardon from President Trump.
The full interview,covering topics like politics and crypto,is available on YouTube.
Bankman-Fried was convicted in 2023 after FTX and Alameda Research lost billions. He discussed the shift in political support from Biden in 2020 to Republicans by 2022. He criticized the administration’s crypto policy as “destructive.”
FTX’s bankruptcy estate is now valued at $15 billion, supporting Bankman-Fried’s solvency claim. however, repayment is delayed due to ongoing legal battles, including a $1.8 billion lawsuit from Binance.
When asked about his future plans, Bankman-Fried said, “It’s hard to say. I have 25 years ahead of me. If my appeal is successful, I’d consider how to be productive again.”
