To issue such an extremely severe verdict, the judge must have surely based the decision on the truly unprecedented scale of fraudulent schemes implemented. Indeed, the latest estimates report losses exceeding 10 billion dollars for clients and cryptocurrency investors harmed by the collapse of FTX. An astronomical amount that makes it one of the biggest scams in history. Prosecutors also condemned the mechanisms of a complexity rarely seen developed by Bankman-Fried.
A Stern Warning
But beyond the individual case of the former crypto-billionaire, this exemplary conviction is mainly aimed at serving as a warning. The court intended to send a strong signal to the entire financial sector, particularly cryptocurrencies. The American justice system thus demonstrates its absolute firmness in the face of such massive crimes. It aims to be a deterrent to prevent any temptation to replicate such heinous acts in the future.
The Battle is Not Over for Sam Bankman-Fried
However, if this judgment marks a major step, it does not yet put a final end to the case. Indeed, given the range in which Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyers wanted his sentence to remain, it would not be surprising if they decided to appeal. According to them, such a sentence remains totally disproportionate for a non-violent crime. They plan to fight in court over the coming months.
No matter what the outcome of this saga, the judgment will undoubtedly make history. It illustrates the depth of the earthquake caused by the FTX scandal within the crypto markets. But also the trauma felt by the thousands of harmed investors. By condemning the architect of this scam with such severity, the American justice system reaffirms a fundamental principle: even the most massive acts of greed will not go unpunished.
The sentence of Sam Bankman-Fried is now known, and the severity of the verdict is beyond doubt. This decision contributes to definitively turn the page on one of the darkest chapters that the crypto universe has ever known. It remains to be seen whether it will be enough to rebuild the trust that has been deeply shaken by this scandal of historic proportions. One thing is for sure: it will stand as a milestone in judicial history for the unprecedented warning it represents.
