Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX, turned 33 while serving a 25-year sentence for misusing customer funds.
On March 5, he gave an interview from prison, sharing his thoughts on his situation and the state of crypto regulation in the US.
Speaking with political commentator Tucker Carlson, Bankman-Fried described his daily life in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He said that no former FTX employees have visited him, and his meals mostly consist of rice and beans.
Did you know?
Subscribe – We publish new crypto explainer videos every week!
Crypto Fees Explained: How Not to Overpay? (Animated)
He also suggested that those once close to him faced heavy legal pressure. He said, “Anyone who was close to me ended up with a gun to their head, being told that they had two options, and one of them involved decades in prison”.
During the interview, Bankman-Fried discussed his political contributions, stating that while he was known for donating to Democratic candidates, he had likely given just as much to Republicans. He also claimed he had never asked lawmakers for help when facing legal trouble, saying he did not want to do anything inappropriate.
Carlson did not directly ask whether Bankman-Fried hoped for a pardon from President Donald Trump, but the conversation touched on topics that aligned with Republican views. At one point, Bankman-Fried insisted:
I don’t think I was a criminal.
He also called the charges against his former associate Salame “totally bogus”, suggesting they may have been politically motivated.
On February 25, Bankman-Fried returned to X after nearly two years of silence. What did he post? Read the full story.
Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.
