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Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty in the FTX crypto fraud case

Founder of FTX Sam Bankman Fried was found guilty of all seven counts of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering after more than two weeks of testimony in one of the highest profile financial crime cases in recent years.
The 31-year-old former cryptocurrency billionaire was convicted on all seven counts of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, charges that each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He was also convicted of conspiracy to commit commodities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years.
“Sam Bankman-Fried perpetrated one of the largest frauds in American history, a multibillion-dollar scheme designed to make him the king of cryptocurrency,” Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a press conference after the ‘accident. verdict. “The point is this: The cryptocurrency industry may be new. Players like Sam Bankman-Fried may be new. This type of fraud, this type of corruption, is as old as time and we have no patience for it.”
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The MIT graduate has steadfastly maintained his innocence since his arrest late last year following the stunning implosion of FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange he co-founded, amid an $8 billion funding shortfall and allegations that he used client money to prop up his ailing hedge fund. He searches for Alameda.
An attorney for Bankman-Fried, Mark S. Cohen, said in a statement that: “We respect the jury’s decision. But we are very disappointed in the outcome. Mr. Bankman Fried maintains his innocence and will continue to vigorously fight the charges against him .”
Bankman-Fried was accused of using some of that money to buy real estate, make political contributions and fund charitable projects, among other purposes unrelated to FTX’s business of allowing people to buy and trade digital currencies.
More generally, the FTX bankruptcy in November 2022 cast a cloud over the entire cryptocurrency industry, while the sudden collapse of other major industry players has vaporized billions in client wealth.
As the verdict was read, Bankman-Fried stood motionless, facing the jury. His parents, sitting in the courtroom, held each other, watching intently.
It was a stunning, supersonic fall from grace for a man who, according to his lawyers, still believed his billion-dollar empire was solvent twelve months ago.
“So many people believed in him, he was a genius,” Natalie Tien, a former FTX employee, told CBS News.
Tien said attending her former boss’s trial was cathartic after experiencing months of confusion and depression as her empire collapsed and she also “lost a lot of money.”
“Sam Bankman-Fried thought he was above the law,” U.S. Attorney Merrick Garland said in a statement. “Today’s verdict proves he was wrong. This case should send a clear message to anyone trying to hide their crimes behind a shiny new thing that they think no one else is smart enough to understand: The Department of Justice will hold you accountable. “
Bankman-Fried’s attorney and federal prosecutors made the closing arguments to a New York City juror Wednesday after more than four weeks of testimony.
Prosecution witnesses included Caroline Ellison, Nishad Singh and Gary Wang, who once worked for Bankman-Fried at FTX or Alameda and who pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including participation in an alleged scheme to defraud millions of customers.
The three accused him of orchestrating the use of FTX clients’ money to make purchases ranging from a luxury condo in the Bahamas to covering losses at Alameda, Bankman-Fried’s cryptocurrency hedge fund.
Ellison testified that Bankman-Fried directed her to siphon money from FTX client accounts to fund investments and trading strategies at Alameda, where she was CEO until FTX’s collapse. FTX co-founder Wang detailed how he and the defendant engaged in financial crimes and lied about it, while Singh, FTX’s former director of engineering, detailed how Bankman-Fried spent FTX money.
Defense lawyers have tried to portray Bankman-Fried as a math nerd who made bad decisions running FTX, but who had nothing criminal on his mind as he built his crypto empire.
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried questioned by prosecutors in fraud and money laundering trial
In the end, it was perhaps the display of arrogance during Bankman-Fried’s testimony that carried the most weight and caused the most damage. During cross-examination by the prosecution, Bankman-Fried said “more than 140 times” that he did not remember a document, a conversation or other key details. The government said over and over again that this was because she was “lying.”
Bankman-Fried testified that he believed Alameda’s expenses came from company funds, not clients, and that any mistakes he made were not ill-intentioned. FTX was intended to “advance the ecosystem,” he testified during the proceedings. “It turned out the opposite.”
It will now be up to Judge Lewis Kaplan to decide what Bankman-Fried’s sentence will be. Although the charges have a statutory minimum of 110 years and sentencing guidelines provide one type of formula, the judge has broad discretion to rule below that guidance. However, CBS News legal analyst Rikki Klieman says that if Judge Kaplan “believes the defendant committed perjury in his courtroom, he may even go beyond the guidelines.”
For his part, Tien, a former FTX employee, said prison time might be too harsh, questioning whether Bankman-Fried could instead help the government investigate other potential cryptocurrency trading frauds.
The next trial in the United States vs. Sam Bankman-Fried saga is scheduled for March 11, 2024, when other charges that the government did not bring will be turned into another prosecution.
This process concludes almost a year to the day that FTX stopped allowing customers to withdraw deposits, marking the beginning of the end of the meteoric rise of the so-called cryptocurrency king.
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Ether Drops Further After ETF Launch

Key points
- Spot ether ETFs began trading in the U.S. today, with the funds initially having more than $10 billion in collective assets under management.
- Analysts expect the launch of spot ether ETFs to have a net negative impact on the underlying price of ether in the near term, due to expected outflows from the pre-existing Grayscale Ethereum Trust.
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs continue to see strong inflows, with BlackRock’s IBIT alone seeing more than $500 million in inflows on Monday.
- Franklin Templeton, a spot ETF issuer on bitcoin and ether, has invested in a project that intends to bring Ethereum technology to Bitcoin.
Nine-point ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs)) started trading on the stock market on Tuesday, but all the optimism ahead of their approval did not translate into gains for the cryptocurrency markets.
Ether (ETH), the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain, dropped less than 1% around the $3,400 level as of 1:30 PM ET, while Bitcoin (BTC) fell more than 2% to around $66,000.
Ether ETFs’ Debut Isn’t as Flashy as Bitcoin ETFs’
Spot ether ETFs began trading at just over $10 billion assets under management (AUM)), according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart, most of that money is in the current Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE) which has now been converted into an ETF.
“In the long term, Grayscale will simultaneously have the highest and lowest fees in the market. The asset manager’s decision to keep its ETHE fee at 2.5% could lead to outflows from the fund,” Kaiko Research said in a note on Monday.
Outflows from ETHE, if they occur, would be similar to those faced by Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) after spot bitcoin ETFs began trading in January of this year, most likely due to high fees for the two original funds. Grayscale’s existing fund charges 2.5% fees, while a new “mini” ether ETF will charge 0.15% and commissions for other ETFs are set at 0.25% or less.
Such outflows could impact the price of ether and market sentiment.
“There could be a pullback shortly after the launch of Ethereum spot ETFs, i.e. outflows from Grayscale Ether Trust could dampen market sentiment in the short term,” Jupiter Zheng, a partner at Hashkey Capital’s liquid fund, told The Block.
But Grayscale remains optimistic.
“Compared to the splashy debut of spot bitcoin ETPs in January, the launch of ethereum ETPs has been relatively muted,” said Zach Pandl, Grayscale’s head of research, adding that investors may be “undervaluing” ether ETFs that are “coming to the U.S. market in tandem with a shift in U.S. cryptocurrency policy and the adoption of tokenization by major financial institutions.”
Bitcoin ETF Inflows Continue to Rise
As for bitcoin, there is clearly no lack of demand for spot ETFs, such as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBITS) recorded its sixth-largest day of inflows in its short history on Monday, at $526.7 million, according to data from Farside Investors. Daily inflows for the overall spot bitcoin ETF market also hit their highest level since June 5.
In particular, asset manager Franklin Templeton, which has issued both bitcoin and ether ETFs, appears to have decided to cover its back when it comes to Ethereum by investing in Bitlayer, a way to implement Ethereum technology on a second-layer Bitcoin network, according to CoinDesk.
News
Spot Ether ETFs Start Trading Today: Here’s What You Need to Know

Key points
- Spot ether ETFs will begin trading on U.S. exchanges on Tuesday. Nine ETFs will trade on Cboe BZX, Nasdaq and NYSE Arca.
- Ether ETFs offer investors exposure to the price of their underlying assets.
- Commissions on these new ETFs generally range from 0.15% to 0.25%.
- These ETFs do not provide exposure to Ethereum staking.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially approved nine ether spots (ETH)exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for trading on U.S. exchanges. Trading for these new cryptocurrency investment vehicles begins today. Here’s everything you need to know.
What new ether ETFs are starting to trade today?
Spot ether ETFs starting trading today can be found at Quotation, NYSE Arkand Cboe BZX. Here’s a breakdown of each ETF you can find on these three exchanges, along with the fund tickers:
Cboe BZX will list the Invesco Galaxy Ethereum ETF (QETH), the 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF (CETH), the Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH), the Franklin Ethereum ETF (EZET) and the VanEck Ethereum ETF (ETHV).
Nasdaq will have the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) created by BlackRock, which also operates the largest spot bitcoin ETF under the ticker IBIT.
NYSE Arca will list the Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW) and the Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE). The Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust (ETH), which will begin trading on the same exchange.
How does an ether ETF work?
Spot ether ETFs are intended to offer exposure to the price of ether held by the funds. Ether is the underlying cryptocurrency of the Ethereal network, the second largest crypto network by market capitalization.
ETF buyers are buying shares of funds that hold ether on behalf of their shareholders. Different spot ether ETFs use different data sources when it comes to setting the price of ether. Grayscale Ethereum Trust, for example, uses the CoinDesk Ether Price Index.
None of the ETFs launching today include pointed etherwhich represents a potential opportunity cost associated with choosing an ETF over other options such as self-custody or a traditional cryptocurrency exchange.
Ether staking currently has an annual return of 3.32%, according to the Compass Staking Yield Reference Index Ethereum. However, it is possible that the SEC will eventually approve Ether staking held by ETFs.
How can I trade Ether ETFs?
ETFs can simplify the trading process for investors. In the case of cryptocurrencies, instead of taking full custody of the ether and taking care of your own private keysSpot ether ETFs allow investors to purchase the cryptocurrency underlying the Ethereum network through traditional brokerage accounts.
Today, not all brokers may offer their clients spot ETFs on cryptocurrencies.
What are the fees for ether ETFs?
The fees associated with each individual spot ether ETF were previously revealed In the S-1 OR S-3 (depending on the specific ETF) deposit associated with the offerings. These fees are 0.25% or less for all but one.
The Grayscale Ethereum Trust, which converts to an ETF, has a fee of 2.5%. The Grayscale Mini Ethereum Trust has the lowest fee at 0.15%. These fees are charged on an annual basis for the provider’s management of the fund and are in line with what was previously seen with spot bitcoin ETFs.
Brokers may also charge their own fees for cryptocurrency trading.
News
Kamala Harris Odds Surge Amid $81M Fundraise. What Does It Mean for Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies?

Market odds and memecoins related to US Vice President Kamala Harris have soared as the latest round of donations tied to the Democratic campaign raised $81 million in 24 hours, bolstering sentiment among some traders.
The odds of Harris being declared the Democratic nominee have risen further to 90% on cryptocurrency betting app Polymarket, up from 80% on Monday and setting a new high.
Previously, in early July, bettors were only betting on 8%, but that changed on Saturday when incumbent President Joe Biden announced he would no longer run in the November election. Biden then approved Harris as a candidate.
Polymarket traders placed $28.6 million in bets in favor of Harris, the data showsThe second favorite is Michelle Obama.
Somewhere else, Memecoin KAMA based on Solanaa political meme token modeled after Harris, has jumped 62% to set a new all-time high of 2 cents at a market cap of $27 million. The token is up a whopping 4,000% from its June 18 low of $0.00061, buoyed primarily by the possibility of Harris becoming president.
As such, Harris has yet to publicly comment on cryptocurrencies or her strategy for the growing market. On the other hand, Republican candidate Donald Trump has expressed support for the cryptocurrency market and is expected to appear at the Bitcoin 2024 conference on Saturday.
However, some expect Harris or the Democratic Party to mention the sector in the coming weeks, which could impact price action.
“While he has not yet received the official nomination, there is consensus that last night’s development is in line with current Democratic strategy,” cryptocurrency trading firm Wintermute said in a Monday note emailed to CoinDesk. “Keep an eye on Democrats’ comments on this issue in the coming days.
“The prevailing assumption is that Harris will win the nomination and any deviation from this expectation could cause market volatility,” the firm added.
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Top 30x Cryptocurrency and Coin Presales Today: Artemis Coin at #1, Others Are: BlockDAG, 99Bitcoin, eTukTuk, and WienerAI

The cryptocurrency market has seen a lot of growth and imagination lately, with new ventures popping up regularly. A critical pattern in this space is the rise of crypto pre-sales, which give backers the opportunity to get involved with promising projects early on. Artemis is a standout option for crypto investors looking to expand their portfolios amid the many pre-sales currently underway.
Cryptocurrency presales, commonly referred to as initial coin offerings (ICOs), allow blockchain ventures to raise capital by offering their local tokens to early backers before they become available on open exchanges. Investors can take advantage of these presales by purchasing tokens at a lower price. If the project is successful and the token’s value increases, investors stand to receive significant returns.
>>> Explore the best cryptocurrency pre-sales to buy now <<
The Ultimate List of the Top 5 Cryptocurrency Pre-Sales to Invest In
- Artemis: The aim of Artemis (ARTMS) will become the cryptocurrency equivalent of eBay or Amazon. The upcoming Phase 4 will see the launch of the Artemis Framework, which will serve as a stage for digital money exchanges where buyers, sellers, specialized organizations and those seeking administration can participate in coherent exchanges.
- DAG Block: uses Directed Acyclic Graph technology to increase blockchain scalability.
- 99bitcoin: operates as a crypto learning platform
- WienerAI uses AI-powered trading bots for precise market analysis.
- eTukTuk focuses on environmentally sustainable transportation options, such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
We have determined that Artemis is the best new cryptocurrency presale for investment after conducting extensive research. It presents itself as the unrivaled cryptocurrency presale choice currently open.
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Top 5 Crypto Pre-Sales and Best Cryptocurrencies for Investment Today
Artemis (ARTMS) is attempting to establish itself as the cryptocurrency version of eBay or Amazon. The Artemis Crypto System, which will act as a platform for cryptocurrency transactions, will be launched in Phase 4. Buyers, sellers, service providers, and requesters will all benefit from seamless trading with this system. Customers will be able to purchase things, such as mobile phones using digital money, as well as sell products such as involved bicycles and get paid in cryptocurrency. Additionally, crypto money can be used to pay for administrations such as clinical consultations, legitimate care, and freelance work. Artemis Coin will act as the main currency of the ecosystem, with Bitcoin and other well-known cryptocurrencies from various blockchain networks backing it.
Artemis Coin has increased in price from 0.00055 to 0.00101 from 0.00094. Artemis may be attractive to individuals looking to recoup losses in Bitcoin, as predicted by cryptocurrency analysts. At this point, it seems to present an interesting presale opportunity.
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The world of digital currency pre-sales is an exciting and exciting opportunity that could open the door to game-changing blockchain projects. Projects in this article, like Artemis Coin, offer the opportunity to shape the future of various industries and the potential for significant returns as the industry develops.
However, it is imperative to approach these investments with caution, thorough research, portfolio diversification, and awareness of the risks. You can explore the digital currency pre-sale scene with greater certainty and increase your chances of identifying and profiting from the most promising venture opportunities by following the advice and methods in this article.
>>> Join the best cryptocurrency pre-sale to invest in now <<
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