In a landmark decision impacting both the crypto and NFT realms, Sam Bankman-Fried—the former chief of the now-ceased FTX exchange and NFT marketplace—has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Earlier today, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in Manhattan sentenced Sam Bankman-Fried for fraud and conspiracy, among numerous other financial-based charges.
Despite the prosecution’s recommendation for a 40 to 50-year prison term and a federal probation officer proposing a whopping 100-year sentence, the defense argued for a significantly shorter sentence of less than seven years.
Ultimately, a 25-year sentence was imposed. Mr. Bankman-Fried reportedly apologized to FTX customers, investors, and employees, acknowledging their profound disappointment. “A lot of people feel really let down, and they were very let down,” he said.
“I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry about what happened at every stage.” He added that his decisions “haunt” him every day.
The Epic Decline of a Web3 Titan
In November 2022, FTX—once valued at over $30 billion—collapsed, wiping out $8 billion in client assets and sparking numerous lawsuits.
Check out: NFT Highlights of 2022 – The Highs and Lows of a Tumultuous Year (nftplazas.com)
Sam Bankman-Fried was later found guilty on charges including fraud and money laundering, leading to a historic sentence for financial crime.
In court, with his parents and elite collections by his side, the once-celebrated philanthropist saw his empire fall apart due to lost trust and financial mismanagement.
His charitable efforts and autism diagnosis did little to offset the damage of his attempt to influence witnesses and the misconduct revealed during his court appearance.
Victim testimonies underscored the devastating impact, with Judge Kaplan also dismissing arguments that bankruptcy could repair the damage.
Confronted with a grim outlook and having lost his sway in the blockchain sphere, Bankman-Fried is said to be appealing his quarter-century behind bars.
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