In crypto circles, the trial of Bankman-Fried was thought-about a “galactic embarrassment,” a sideshow whose consequence would have little impact on the prospects or trajectory of remaining crypto companies, however forged a darkish cloud over the {industry} and attracted a torrent of unflattering press.
Its conclusion marks a possibility for the crypto sector to begin anew. Bankman-Fried and FTX will be the story of the day, says Kurt Wuckert Jr., bitcoin knowledgeable at media firm CoinGeek, however they may quickly grow to be artifacts of crypto historical past, just like the closure of underground marketplace Silk Road or bankruptcy of the Mt. Gox exchange. FTX will grow to be simply one other “level of reference,” he says.
However that doesn’t preclude one other comparable fraud going down in future, says Wuckert Jr., significantly whereas there stays a lack of regulatory clarity with respect to crypto in jurisdictions just like the US. Bankman-Fried’s conviction doesn’t sign that “crypto is clear,” says Kyla Curley, a forensic investigator specializing in crypto and companion at compliance advisory agency StoneTurn. Till crypto companies are held to a transparent and industry-specific set of requirements, she says, “purchaser beware” stays the message.
Probably the most instantly tangible advantage of the conviction could also be in its cathartic impact for FTX prospects, though it is going to haven’t any bearing on the sum of money returned on the finish of the chapter course of. “It’s extra about justice—about feeling and emotion,” says Mike van Rossum, founding father of buying and selling agency Folkvang, an FTX creditor and fairness holder. “We want a world the place there’s accountability for the dangerous stuff you do. In Sam’s case, dangerous issues have been executed.”
Now the jury has returned its verdict, choose Lewis Kaplan will resolve on an acceptable sentence for Bankman-Fried. The utmost jail sentence for the seven counts on which he has been convicted is bigger than 100 years. However in apply, says Estes, the sentence is prone to fall far in need of that mark. Kaplan is anticipated to decide on that inside the subsequent few months.
Within the meantime, Bankman-Fried should put together for a second trial. In March 2024, he will probably be tried on a further 5 costs, introduced by the DoJ within the months after his preliminary arrest, together with conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud, conspiracy to commit acts of bribery, and securities fraud.
The issue for Bankman-Fried, says Estes, was all the time that he needed to defeat every of the 12 costs towards him to stroll free. That was made harder when his trial was break up in two, leaving him with two units of jurors to win over. Though the burden of proof sits with the US authorities, Bankman-Fried was going through an “uphill battle,” says Estes, as a result of he solely wanted to be convicted of “one rely in both of the trials” for the choose to have the ability to “sentence him to jail.”
