Gone quiet · last update Sep 10, 2026 / Sam Bankman-Fried
FTX's collapse and Sam Bankman-Fried's fraud conviction
Overview · reviewed October 31, 2026
In November 2022 the cryptocurrency exchange FTX collapsed into bankruptcy days after agreeing to sell itself to its rival Binance, billions of dollars short and under Justice Department scrutiny.[1][2] Its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, was convicted of fraud in 2023 and sentenced in March 2024 to 25 years in prison for stealing at least $10 billion.[3][4] He has appealed the conviction.[5]
Its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, was convicted of fraud in 2023 and sentenced in March 2024 to 25 years in prison for stealing at least $10 billion.[3][4] He has appealed the conviction.[5]
Coverage over time
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Weekly counts, outlets and reports (46 weeks with coverage)
| Week of (UTC) | Left | Center | Right | Of tracked | Share | Receipts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 7, 2026 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 2% | |
| Jun 8, 2026 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2% | |
| Nov 18, 2024 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 4% | |
| Nov 11, 2024 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3% | |
| Oct 28, 2024 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2% | |
| Sep 23, 2024 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 27 | 13% | |
| Sep 9, 2024 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 3% | |
| May 27, 2024 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 4% | |
| May 6, 2024 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 28 | 12% | |
| Apr 8, 2024 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2% | |
| Mar 25, 2024 | 25 | 30 | 16 | 71 | 29% | |
| Mar 11, 2024 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 15 | 6% | |
| Feb 26, 2024 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 15 | 6% | |
| Jan 22, 2024 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 3% | |
| Dec 25, 2023 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 8% | |
| Oct 30, 2023 | 27 | 38 | 16 | 81 | 35% | |
| Oct 23, 2023 | 18 | 19 | 10 | 47 | 20% | |
| Oct 16, 2023 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2% | |
| Oct 9, 2023 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 27 | 11% | |
| Oct 2, 2023 | 17 | 17 | 8 | 42 | 17% | |
| Sep 25, 2023 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2% | |
| Sep 18, 2023 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 6% | |
| Sep 4, 2023 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 4% | |
| Aug 28, 2023 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3% | |
| Aug 21, 2023 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 5% | |
| Aug 14, 2023 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 5% | |
| Aug 7, 2023 | 16 | 17 | 11 | 44 | 17% | |
| Jul 24, 2023 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 3% | |
| Jul 17, 2023 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 3% | |
| Jun 12, 2023 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 3% | |
| Jun 5, 2023 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 5% | |
| May 8, 2023 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 6% | |
| Apr 17, 2023 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2% | |
| Mar 27, 2023 | 14 | 17 | 5 | 36 | 13% | |
| Feb 27, 2023 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2% | |
| Feb 20, 2023 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 19 | 10% | |
| Jan 9, 2023 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 6% | |
| Jan 2, 2023 | 15 | 17 | 6 | 38 | 20% | |
| Dec 26, 2022 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3% | |
| Dec 19, 2022 | 15 | 22 | 12 | 49 | 27% | |
| Dec 12, 2022 | 18 | 31 | 16 | 65 | 35% | |
| Dec 5, 2022 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 7% | |
| Nov 28, 2022 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 32 | 17% | |
| Nov 21, 2022 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 30 | 18% | |
| Nov 14, 2022 | 11 | 15 | 8 | 34 | 18% | |
| Nov 7, 2022 | 17 | 20 | 8 | 45 | 24% |
Latest coverage
Background
FTX's new chief executive, a veteran bankruptcy lawyer, blasted the company's handling of its finances,[6] and its lawyers said a substantial amount of its assets were stolen or missing.[7] Bankman-Fried said he did not "knowingly" misuse customers' money.[8] He was arrested in the Bahamas in December 2022 at the request of the United States, charged with fraud and released on a $250 million bond.[9][10][11] Prosecutors later added a charge that he directed $40 million in bribes to Chinese officials.[12]
A judge jailed him in August 2023 after concluding he had tampered with witnesses.[13] At the trial his former top executive, Caroline Ellison, testified that he had corrupted her values so she could lie and steal;[14] she was later sentenced to two years in prison.[15] In May 2024 FTX said nearly all of its customers would get back the money they were owed.[16]
Supporting stories (16)
- Binance to buy rival FTX Trading in apparent bailout
- FTX cryptocurrency exchange files for bankruptcy
- Sam Bankman-Fried found guilty in FTX crypto fraud case
- Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
- Sam Bankman-Fried appeals fraud conviction tied to FTX collapse
- New CEO of FTX blasts its handling of financial information
- $740M in crypto assets recovered in FTX bankruptcy so far
- Ex-FTX CEO Says He Did Not 'Knowingly' Misuse Millions of Dollars in Customer Funds
- Bankman-Fried, former CEO of crypto firm FTX, arrested in Bahamas
- FTX founder charged in scheme to defraud crypto investors
- FTX founder Bankman-Fried allowed $250M bond, house arrest
- Sam Bankman-Fried directed $40M cryptocurrency bribe to Chinese officials, federal prosecutors allege
- FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried jailed; judge says crypto mogul tampered with witnesses
- Caroline Ellison, saying Sam Bankman-Fried corrupted her values, found relief when truth came out
- Former FTX executive Caroline Ellison gets 2 years in prison over fraud
- FTX says it will return money to most of its customers
The full record
November 2024
September 2024
May 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
October 2023
- Sam Bankman-Fried found guilty in FTX crypto fraud case
- Prosecutor cites 'pyramid of deceit' in urging jury to convict FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried
- Jury starts deliberations in Sam Bankman-Fried $10 billion fraud trial
- FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried acknowledges in court that customers were hurt but denies fraud
- Sam Bankman-Fried Needs to Testify Twice: To Judge, Then to Jury
- Sam Bankman-Fried's lawyers say he needs more Adderall to concentrate in court
- Caroline Ellison, saying Sam Bankman-Fried corrupted her values, found relief when truth came out
- Sam Bankman-Fried's crypto empire was 'built on lies,' US prosecutor says
- Caroline Ellison says FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried corrupted her values so she could lie and steal
- Sam Bankman-Fried wanted to pay Donald Trump not to run for office. The price? $5 billion, says his biographer.
- Sam Bankman-Fried must now convince a jury that the former crypto king was not a crook
September 2023
August 2023
- Robinhood buys back $605 million stake once owned by Sam Bankman-Fried
- Jailed Sam Bankman-Fried can't prepare for trial without vegan diet and adequate meds, lawyers say
- Testimony from Sam Bankman-Fried's trusted inner circle will be used to convict him, prosecutors say
- FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried jailed; judge says crypto mogul tampered with witnesses
- Sam Bankman-Fried is headed to one of New York City's most notorious prisons
July 2023
June 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
- Sam Bankman-Fried defends himself in online post: 'I didn’t steal funds'
- Florida Judge Terminates FTX’s Naming-Rights for Miami Heat Arena
- FTX Has Recovered $5 Billion Worth of ‘Liquid' Assets, Lawyers Say
- FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried pleads not guilty to fraud
- Sam Bankman-Fried Expected To Enter Not Guilty Plea
December 2022
- Bahamian Regulator Says It Seized $3.5 Billion of FTX Crypto Assets for ‘Safekeeping'
- Associates of FTX founder plead guilty to criminal charges
- FTX founder Bankman-Fried allowed $250M bond, house arrest
- Sam Bankman-Fried pictured arriving at courthouse in Bahamas, where his extradition to the US could be decided
- FTX founder charged in scheme to defraud crypto investors
- Bankman-Fried, former CEO of crypto firm FTX, arrested in Bahamas
- FTX founder agrees to extradition to US, attorney says
- FTX CEO blames 'grossly inexperienced' owners for collapse, says customer money funded risky Alameda trades
- Lawmakers to hold FTX hearing despite former CEO arrest
- FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried says he’s willing to testify before House committee
November 2022
- Ex-FTX CEO Says He Did Not 'Knowingly' Misuse Millions of Dollars in Customer Funds
- FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried: 'Look, I screwed up'
- Cryptocurrency lender BlockFi files for bankruptcy, latest in FTX fallout
- FTX, Bankman-Fried's parents, senior execs bought $121M worth of Bahamas properties: report
- $740M in crypto assets recovered in FTX bankruptcy so far
- New CEO of FTX blasts its handling of financial information
- Tom Brady, Larry David, other celebrities named in FTX suit
- FTX Says It Could Have Over 1 Million Creditors in New Bankruptcy Filing
- Miami Heat's home arena will get new name after FTX collapse
- FTX Faces Criminal Investigation In Bahamas After Crypto Exchange Collapses, Police Say
- FTX cryptocurrency exchange files for bankruptcy
- Cryptocurrency exchange FTX files for bankruptcy protection in US
- FTX bankruptcy filing: What's happening at the crypto exchange?
- FTX bankruptcy is bad news for the charities that crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried generously supported
- Binance to buy rival FTX Trading in apparent bailout
Coverage & sources
Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.