Former cryptocurrency entrepreneur Sam Bankman Fried, who was sentenced last week to 25 years in prison for fraud, told ABC News in an exclusive interview that he regrets his actions.
“That’s pretty much what I think about every day,” he said.
Bankman Freed’s ruling comes after FTX, the global cryptocurrency exchange he co-founded and served as CEO, collapsed in November 2022, resulting in $8 billion in losses for customers. It concludes a 17-month story that began in . Bankman Fried resigned amid the company’s bankruptcy, and the new owners filed for bankruptcy. Prosecutors said the suspect stole money from FTX customers and used the money for political contributions, investments and personal gain. He was convicted last fall on seven counts of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, leading to Thursday’s sentencing.
Speaking exclusively to ABC News via email over the weekend from Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, Bankman Fried said FTX’s bankruptcy was the result of several “bad decisions” he made in 2022. .
“I never thought that what I was doing was illegal, but I tried to hold myself to a high standard and I certainly didn’t meet that standard,” he said.
In Thursday’s ruling, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan said Bankman Fried committed perjury in her testimony and was “often evasive.” The judge also said the defendant’s statements showed no “remorse for having committed such a horrific crime”.
Bankman Fried said Sunday that she “obviously” regrets it.
“I have seen and heard the despair, frustration and sense of betrayal of thousands of customers. They deserve to be paid in full at current prices,” he said.
“It could and should have happened in November 2022, it could and should happen today. It’s unbearable to see them waiting day in and day out,” he said. Told.
He added that he “felt the pain” of his colleagues as they “threw away something they had poured their lives into” and that the charity he supported “was nothing more than reputational damage for funding”. I felt the pain,” he added.
“I am haunted every day by what was lost. It was never my intention to hurt anyone or take anyone’s money. But I am the CEO of FTX and I am haunted by what happened to the company. There was a responsibility, and when you take responsibility, it’s me.” “It doesn’t matter why it went bad. I’ll give anything if I can repair even some of the damage. I’ll do whatever I can from prison.” “We’re doing a lot of work, but it’s very frustrating that we can’t do more,” he said. He said.
Bankman Fried, 32, said in a statement in court Thursday that if he or another FTX employee had stayed on as CEO, customers “would have paid back a long time ago.” He blamed the company’s decision not to reopen the FTX exchange, which could have led to long-term value.
“There was and is a wealth of assets that can fully repay customers, lenders and investors at current or historical prices,” he said.
In a court filing last year, Bankman Freed accused the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, which represents FTX’s new ownership, of cooperating with prosecutors, saying it had no access to FTX that the firm had shared with prosecutors. He said he had the right to see the documents. As a result, Bankman Fried suggested Sunday that he did not receive a fair trial.
“Fundamentally, Mr. Salkrom’s role in the prosecution, the one-sided media frenzy they instigated, and the defense’s incompetence in obtaining key evidence at trial affected the entire process.” Stated.
Sullivan & Cromwell did not respond to requests for comment Sunday.
Mr. Bankman-Fried also said that Mr. Bankman-Fried’s defense team said that certain trial testimony that Mr. He said he plans to file an appeal later this year based on the fact that he was not allowed to erect a building. ” He did not provide details, explaining that he did not want to influence the defense team’s legal strategy.
“I’ve lost everything I have to lose,” Bankman Fried said after Thursday’s sentencing.
“I would do anything to bring about positive change in the world, but I know that’s not going to happen. I can’t do anything because I’m in prison,” he said in court.
