Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the 31-year-old American entrepreneur, was not long ago considered the “messiah of the crypto world”. His crypto exchange FTX quickly became one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world.
At least until the company collapsed. FTX was unable to survive the bearish market in 2022 and that was because it manipulated customer funds.
In November 2023, Bankman-Fried was found guilty of, among other things, fraud. Now a new photo has emerged showing the former CEO in prison.
The first photo of “crypto king” Sam Bankman-Fried since his imprisonment emerges
The photo shared by crypto journalist Tiffany Fong shows a stark contrast to Bankman-Fried’s previous public appearances.
The photo was taken on December 17, 2023 at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York and marks the first time he has been seen in public since his incarceration.
Bankman-Fried is seen with a new look; with a beard and a slim build, along with five other prisoners.
First photo of Sam Bankman-Fried in the MDC Brooklyn prison. (December 17, 2023) pic.twitter.com/QlENjjmeQG
– Tiffany Fong (@TiffanyFong_) February 20, 2024
Interview with a fellow prisoner of the former FTX CEO SBF
Fong offers a glimpse into the daily life of the ancient “crypto king” through a interview with a former fellow inmate. “G Lock,” to Bankman-Fried’s left in the photo, describes him as a “very strange but good guy.”
According to G Lock, Bankman-Fried was not the target of serious violence or intimidation. He calls Bankman-Fried “more gangster” than rapper Tekashi Six Nine because Bankman-Fried “never betrayed anyone.”
G Lock also reports that Bankman-Fried doesn’t pay much attention to his personal hygiene. “He’s obviously been through a lot,” Fong notes.
The photo is met with mixed reactions from the crypto community. Some people note that he seems to be having a hard time in prison, while others joke that he’s about to release “the album of the year.”
FTX went bankrupt in November 2022 with an estimated value of more than $30 billion, but was found to be missing more than $8 billion in customer funds.
Although Bankman-Fried has already been found guilty, sentencing has not yet occurred. His sentencing will not take place until March 28th. He could potentially spend decades behind bars.