1. Home
  2. founder

founder

SBF’s neurodivergence saw him ‘misinterpreted’ at trial, doctors argue

The court and jury could have misunderstood Sam Bankman-Fried’s behavior during his criminal trial due to his autism and attention deficit disorders, doctors wrote in a recent amicus brief.

Sam Bankman-Fried’s criminal trial could have been hurt because of his neurodivergence disorders, leading to “longwinded answers” that frustrated the court, says a group of doctors in an amicus brief supporting his appeal. 

The FTX co-founder is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that “posed serious challenges during proceedings in this case,” eight doctors focused on the field of neurodivergence told the Second Circuit Appeals Court in a Sept. 20 amicus brief supporting Bankman-Fried.

They claimed several rulings were detrimental to Bankman-Fried “because of his neurodivergence,” in particular the Manhattan district court’s ruling that government prosecutors could cross-examine him without a jury before he sat before jurors. 

Read more

Former Binance.US CEO Brian Brooks takes board seat at MicroStrategy

Jack Dorsey leaves board of decentralized social network Bluesky

After backing and funding Bluesky when he was CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey has left the board of the social network.

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has left Bluesky’s board — the decentralized social media platform he conceived and funded in 2019 when he was Twitter’s CEO.

Bluesky confirmed Dorsey’s exit in a May 5 post on the platform, writing that it was “searching for a new board member” and thanked Dorsey for his help in starting and funding the project.

Hours earlier, Dorsey had responded with a curt “no” to someone on X asking if he was still on Bluesky’s board. Neither Bluesky nor Dorsey explained why he decided to leave. Bluesky did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more

Former Binance.US CEO Brian Brooks takes board seat at MicroStrategy

Yuga Labs co-founder addresses come-back rumors amid ongoing health break

Wylie Aronow said he’s been seeing a number of tweets this week asking when he’s planning to return to the helm at Yuga Labs.

Nonfungible token (NFT) entrepreneur Wylie Aronow has confirmed he isn’t ready to return to Yuga Labs, the NFT firm he co-founded, despite making “steady progress” with his health.

“I’m not ready to come back to even part-time work. I have to ensure I’m around for a long time, for those who need me,” Aronow said on Dec. 11 in addressing rumors of a potential return.

Aronow explained that some days he’s ready to throw himself into the “deep end,” while on other days he feels he needs to be “wheel-chaired” to an emergency room.

Read more

Former Binance.US CEO Brian Brooks takes board seat at MicroStrategy

Judge accepts Binance CEO CZ’s guilty plea, with sentencing in Feb

This court “hereby accepts the guilty plea of the defendant to the charge [...] and the defendant is adjudged guilty of such offense,” wrote Judge Richard Jones.

A federal judge accepted Binance founder Changpang "CZ" Zhao's guilty plea to money laundering, but hasn't decided if he can leave the United States before his February sentencing date.

In a Dec. 6 filing to a Seattle District Court, Judge Richard Jones said he accepted Zhao’s guilty plea to one count of Bank Secrecy Act violations, which he submitted over two weeks ago on Nov. 21 alongside his exchange’s $4.3 billion settlement with the U.S.

As part of the settlement deal, Zhao agreed to step down as CEO of Binance and paid $150 million to regulators.

Read more

Former Binance.US CEO Brian Brooks takes board seat at MicroStrategy

What’s next for the ‘crypto king’ Sam Bankman-Fried?

The former FTX CEO is headed back to prison and awaits a potential second trial in March, while his lawyers pledged to “continue to vigorously fight the charges against him."

Sam Bankman-Fried is back in his federal prison cell in Brooklyn after being found guilty for all seven charges in his criminal trial. His lawyers however, say the fight isn’t yet over.

Bankman-Fried’s attorney Mark Cohen said in a Nov. 2 statement that Bankman-Fried “maintains his innocence and will continue to vigorously fight the charges against him."

If Bankman-Fried follows through then it’s possible he will appeal after being sentenced. The first step would see the FTX co-founder file a notice of appeal in the New York District Court where he was just found guilty.

Bankman-Fried was hit with a guilty verdict from the jury on late Nov. 2 in New York. United States Attorney Damian Willaims called Bankman-Fried one of the biggest financial frauds in American history and perpetrator of “a multibillion-dollar scheme designed to make him the king of crypto."

Bankman-Fried faces the possibility of an another criminal trial slated for March 11 on five charges of bribery conspiracy, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business, bank fraud conspiracy along with derivatives and securities fraud.

New York District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan gave government prosecutors a Feb. 1, 2024 deadline to confirm if they will still pursue the second trial.

If that goes ahead, Bankman-Fried has the option to plead guilty which could help reduce his sentence.

As for the recent guilty verdict — prosecutors will recommend a sentence by March 15, and will see Bankman-Fried will return to court for sentencing on March 28, 2024.

Kaplan however, will have the final say on how much time Bankman-Fried will serve. If Bankman-Fried served the maximum sentences for his crimes back-to-back he would be in jail for 110 years.

Kaplan, however, could instead decide that Bankman-Fried will serve his sentence concurrently. If so, his wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy crimes alone each carry a maximum 20-year sentence.

Former federal prosecutor turned crypto venture capitalist Kathryn Haun said in a Nov. 2 X (Twitter) post that she thinks Bankman-Fried will likely spend “decades in prison.”

In the meantime, Bankman-Fried will stay in jail at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn where he’s been incarcerated since Aug. 11 after breaking his bail conditions.

Kaplan previously said the Brooklyn jail was “not on anybody’s list of five-star facilities” and during Bankman-Fried’s time there before the trial, he complained about his lack of access to medication and vegan food.

Related: How long could Sam Bankman-Fried go to jail for? Crypto lawyers weigh in

In September, a week before the start of Bankman-Fried’s trial, lawyers gave mixed predictions as to how long his sentence would be.

Loevy & Loevy partner Michael Kanovitz said if Bankman-Fried was found guilty, “I think he will get the maximum sentence.”

Hogan & Hogan partner Jeremy Hogan predicted Bankman-Fried may not have the book thrown at him and get the maximum 110-year sentence but he’ll be “going to prison for quite some time.”

“I don’t know enough about it to get into details,” Hogan said. “Just a long time — more than 10 years.”

Magazine: Slumdog billionaire 2 — ‘Top 10… brings no satisfaction’ says Polygon’s Sandeep Nailwal

Former Binance.US CEO Brian Brooks takes board seat at MicroStrategy

FBI searched Kraken co-founder’s home in March: Report

Electronic devices were seized from former Kraken CEO Jesse Powell’s Los Angeles home in connection to a non-crypto-related investigation into alleged hacking and cyberstalking.

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) reportedly searched the home of Kraken co-founder Jesse Powell in March as part of an investigation into claims he hacked and cyber-stalked a nonprofit arts group.

It is claimed that Powell interfered with computer accounts by blocking access to emails and other messages from contributors of Verge Center for the Arts — the non-profit Powell founded, according to a July 6 report from The New York Times, citing three people with knowledge on that matter.

The trio informed The NYT that the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California has been investigating Powell since “at least” September.

Electronic devices were reportedly seized from Powell’s home in Brentwood, Los Angeles as part of the search. However, it is understood that prosecutors have not accused Powell of any crimes.

Powell’s lawyer, Brandon Fox said the investigation mostly focused on allegations made by Verge Center for the Arts — the nonprofit Powell founded, and not anything to do with Powell’s involvement in the “cryptocurrency arena.” This was reportedly also confirmed by a Kraken spokesperson.

Fox also said that Powell “did nothing wrong.”

An inside view of Verge Center for the Arts, which was founded by Powell. Source: Verge Center for the Arts

Cointelegraph reached out to Jesse Powell for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

Related: Former FTX exec Ryan Salame’s home searched by FBI: Report

Powell reportedly founded the Sacramento-based arts group in 2007. However, his LinkedIn states that he’s worked as the founder and board member since April 2010.

Kraken remains the second largest United States-based cryptocurrency exchange behind Coinbase, according to CoinMarketCap.

Kraken was hit with enforcement action by the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission in February for failing to register the offer and sale of their staking service program.

The firm reached a settlement with the securities regulator, paying a lofty $30 million fine.

Magazine: Opinion: GOP crypto maxis almost as bad as Dems’ ‘anti-crypto army’

Former Binance.US CEO Brian Brooks takes board seat at MicroStrategy

Do Kwon to Be Released on €400,000 Bail, Pleads Not Guilty in Montenegro

Do Kwon to Be Released on €400,000 Bail, Pleads Not Guilty in MontenegroTerraform founder Do Kwon will be released from jail but placed under police surveillance at a local residence, a Montenegrin court has decided. The trial against him and another Korean, on charges of travelling on false documents, opened on Thursday with both pleading not guilty. Court Grants Bail Request for Do Kwon, Puts Him Under […]

Former Binance.US CEO Brian Brooks takes board seat at MicroStrategy

Seoul Takes Control Over $160 Million in Assets of Former Terraform Employees, Founder

Seoul Takes Control Over 0 Million in Assets of Former Terraform Employees, FounderAuthorities in South Korea have reportedly seized assets worth billions of won belonging to former representatives of Terraform Labs. The measure should prevent suspects in the case with the failed blockchain firm from selling property that may have been obtained with criminal proceeds. South Korean Law Enforcement Moves to Seize Terraform-Linked Real Estate, Report Prosecutors […]

Former Binance.US CEO Brian Brooks takes board seat at MicroStrategy

South Korean Court Denies Arrest Warrant for Terraform Co-Founder Daniel Shin

South Korean Court Denies Arrest Warrant for Terraform Co-Founder Daniel ShinA court in South Korea has again denied the arrest warrant for Daniel Shin, a co-founder of Terraform Labs who is being investigated for fraud. Shin has been accused of illegally profiting from the sale of over $100 million worth of the luna cryptocurrency before it collapsed. Seoul Court Leaves Terraform Co-Founder at Large Citing […]

Former Binance.US CEO Brian Brooks takes board seat at MicroStrategy

Do Kwon to Stand Trial in Montenegro, May Serve Time Before Extradition

Do Kwon to Stand Trial in Montenegro, May Serve Time Before ExtraditionBefore extradition, Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon will first have to stand trial in Montenegro for traveling on a fake passport, according to his lawyer in the country. The fugitive crypto entrepreneur may also have to serve time in prison before he is extradited from the Balkan nation, its justice minister indicated. Alleged South Korean […]

Former Binance.US CEO Brian Brooks takes board seat at MicroStrategy