Former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison—one of the central insiders in the FTX collapse—is scheduled to leave federal custody in January 2026, according to updated Bureau of Prisons records cited by multiple outlets. Her early release, after extensive cooperation, re-raises the core question: Was FTX a politically targeted crypto casualty—or a classic, old-school fraud wearing a “new finance” hoodie?
Our network partner FinCrime Observer recently outlined how the June 9, 2025 DOJ “Guidelines for Investigations and Enforcement of the FCPA” slash half of all pending bribery probes and restrict new ones to four scenarios that “vindicate U.S. interests.” However, the truly interesting aspect of international bribery activities is the widespread use of cryptocurrencies.
The sensational federal trial of SafeMoon CEO Braden John Karony kicked off in Brooklyn, promising to be one of the most explosive DeFi crime showdowns of the year. Karony stands accused of masterminding a multimillion-dollar scheme under the guise of a “decentralized” finance token that defrauded over a million investors. Former CTO Thomas Smith turned on him, founder Kyle Nagy reportedly hides in Russia.
FTX, once hailed as the gold standard of crypto exchanges, imploded in November 2022, revealing a multi-billion-dollar fraud orchestrated by founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF). What began as a scrappy crypto derivatives exchange turned into a house of cards built on customer fund misuse, opaque affiliate structures, and a startling absence of regulatory oversight
In a remote interview with Tucker Carlson on March 5, 2025, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the convicted FTX founder, reframed his $10 billion fraud as a mere liquidity crisis, denying criminal intent while playing chess with Sean 'Diddy' Combs in prison. As he hints at GOP leanings and a potential pardon, SBF’s narrative sparks debate: a bid for redemption or a refusal to face the fallout?
Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and a key figure in high-profile crypto prosecutions, including the Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) case, will resign on Dec. 13. Deputy U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim will serve as Acting U.S. Attorney until a Trump nominee, possibly Jay Clayton, takes over pending Senate confirmation.
Gary Wang, the last close associate of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), has avoided prison after receiving three years of supervised release. His cooperation with U.S. prosecutors in exposing the $8 billion fraud was pivotal, earning him praise from Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. The collapse of the US crypto exchange FTX in November 2022 marked the beginning of the last crypto winter.
Gary Wang, FTX’s former coding chief and co-founder, has been praised by prosecutors for his “outstanding” assistance in building the case against Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF). Scheduled for sentencing on November 20, Wang has developed tools to help the US government identify fraud in cryptocurrency and stock markets, a factor prosecutors urge the court to consider for leniency.
Gary Wang, co-founder of FTX, has requested a non-custodial sentence in a court memo submitted on November 6th, emphasizing his cooperation as a key witness in the U.S. v. Sam Bankman-Fried case. Wang argues his minimal involvement in FTX’s collapse and his substantial assistance to prosecutors justify leniency. He will be sentenced on Nov. 20 after pleading guilty.
FTX Trading Ltd. has filed a lawsuit against Ryan Salame, former head of FTX Digital Markets, seeking the recovery of $98.8 million allegedly misappropriated in the lead-up to the exchange's collapse. Accusations against Salame include using customer funds to finance a lavish lifestyle and political contributions. He was sentenced to 7.5 years (90 months) in prison for his role in the FTX scandal.
The legal dispute between the collapsed U.S. crypto exchange FTX and Dubai-based Bybit has recently reached a significant milestone with a settlement agreement worth $228 million. Here's an overview of the background, context, and latest developments. The settlement comes just in time for the expected bull run in the crypto segment.
FTX was a major U.S. crypto exchange that collapsed in November 2022 amid allegations of fraud and misuse of customer funds. Plaintiffs' lawyers in the FTX litigation in Miami federal court have reached a deal with lawyers for the bankrupt company, resolving a fight that erupted earlier this year over who owns the right to sue on behalf of customers of the crypto exchange.