The founder and former CEO of failed crypto trade FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), stirred controversy another time. Following his extradition from the Bahamas to america, the crypto firm founder was launched into the custody of his dad and mom.
As Bitcoinist reported final week, SBF was granted a $250 million bail. When his household posted their home as collateral, the previous FTX was allowed to await trial underneath home arrest. The FTX founder was allegedly concerned in a scheme that price his shoppers over $8 billion in losses.
In that sense, the U.S. court docket’s leniency and the truth that SBF’s dad and mom supposedly failed to fulfill the factors to make bail raised a number of issues concerning the authorized course of. Throughout social media, customers expressed their issues and mistrust in regards to the case in opposition to Bankman-Fried.
I’m not a regulation knowledgeable however isn’t the purpose of bail that it’s your personal cash? So you may have one thing to lose?
If it’s cash that you simply owe another person then it’s not excellent collateral????????
— Udi Wertheimer (@udiWertheimer) December 22, 2022
If You Had been SBF, What Would You Do?
In an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Field, former U.S. Securities and Trade Fee (SEC) Chairman Jay Clayton addressed latest occasions and tried to supply his perspective on the case. Clayton closely critiqued crypto and digital belongings throughout his time main the regulators.
Earlier than stepping down, the SEC launched an motion in opposition to fee firm Ripple for allegedly providing unregistered securities, XRP tokens. Upon leaving the Fee, Clayton shifted his perspective and joined a number of pro-crypto tasks and firms.
Concerning the SBF and the FTX case, the previous SEC Chair emphasised that the precedence ought to get better shoppers’ funds. Many people and establishments positioned their belief in Bankman-Fried and firm and have been left “holding the bag” Clayton stated the next in regards to the chance that the authorized course of is “a sham deal”:
I don’t suppose it’s a sham deal; you may have skilled federal prosecutors and federal judges all weighing in on this. You don’t see any actual complaints from the skilled group. I feel this a part of the story will fade away.
SBF tried to battle the extradition course of from the Bahamas. The FTX founder spent weeks in one of the vital harmful prisons on the planet. Nonetheless, in keeping with a number of reviews, he obtained “particular therapy” and privileges that different prisoners are denied.
Regardless of latest occasions, Clayton believes individuals ought to concentrate on prosecutors having a suspect in custody and proof to defend their case. On the $250 million bail, the previous SEC boss claims the court docket tries to discourage suspects and their households from avoiding the authorized course of.
About SBF’s prospects and his future decisions, about whether or not a life sentence in jail is the “reply,” Clayton took the FTX former CEO’s perspective. He stated:
All of these items would be the topic of negotiation if there’s a plea association. Such as you stated earlier than, there’s a ton of concerns which are going to enter this (political, authorized, monetary, and many others.). I feel there will probably be great stress to succeed in a decision (…).

As of this writing, Bitcoin trades at $16,600 with sideways motion on excessive timeframes. Chart from Tradingview.