Unveiling the Crypto Catastrophe: Sam Bankman-Fried's Hidden Transactions

Coinbase's Conor Grogan has uncovered previously unknown on-chain activities by FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), including the sale of $75 million worth of staked ETH in January 2022, triggering a depeg event that contributed to the collapse of Celsius, Three Arrows Capital, and the manipulation of various crypto tokens, including NFTs, SHIB, and SUSHI, using FTX customer funds for personal gain.

Unveiling the Hidden Transactions: Sam Bankman-Fried's Devastating Impact on Crypto

Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has been under intense scrutiny for his alleged fraudulent activities. While his trial unfolds, a deeper examination of his on-chain transactions sheds light on a series of lesser-known actions that played a significant role in harming the crypto ecosystem.

Depeg Event Catalyst: Alameda's Sale of Staked ETH

In January 2022, Alameda Research, the trading firm affiliated with FTX, spearheaded the sale of $75 million worth of staked ETH (stETH). This massive transaction triggered a depeg event, causing stETH to lose its value relative to ETH. The reverberations of this event rippled through the crypto market, eventually leading to the bank run on Celsius and the collapse of Three Arrows Capital.

Misuse of Customer Funds: NFT Purchases and Wash Trading

Beyond Alameda's market manipulations, Sam Bankman-Fried is alleged to have used FTX customer funds to purchase non-fungible tokens (NFTs) with questionable value. One notable instance involves CarolineDAO NFTs, which were marketed as "SimpDAO" for Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research and Bankman-Fried's former girlfriend.

Furthermore, Bankman-Fried and Alameda Research engaged in thousands of wash-trading transactions to artificially inflate the visibility of SBF's holdings. This practice, which involves buying and selling assets to create the illusion of demand, enabled Alameda to manipulate the market with its vast capital, fueled by FTX customer funds.

Market Manipulation Tactics: Test NFT and RAY Tokens

In an attempt to influence market sentiment, Sam Bankman-Fried created and sold a "test" NFT for $270,000. Investigators speculate that this purchase may have been made using customer funds, a clear indication of potential misconduct.

Bankman-Fried also received 2 million RAY tokens and sold a portion, despite the tokens being designated for vesting. These actions suggest a blatant disregard for proper token distribution and market manipulation practices.

Shiba Inu's Rise and Fall: Orchestrated Market Dynamics

Sam Bankman-Fried's influence extended to the Shiba Inu (SHIB) token. Investigators believe he orchestrated the price surge of SHIB while accumulating a substantial position. When the time was right, he offloaded his holdings, causing the meme coin to plummet. The timing coincided suspiciously with FTX's expansion of its SHIB perpetual, raising concerns that SBF may have also shorted the coin.

SUSHI Dump and FTT's Inflated Value

Bankman-Fried allegedly dumped 35,000 SUSHI tokens while denying having done so. This deceptive behavior further undermines his credibility and raises questions about the accuracy of his public statements.

The FTT token, which Bankman-Fried invented, played a central role in his on-chain transactions. The trading firm repeatedly wrapped and rewrapped the token to increase liquidity, providing a platform for manipulation. Bankman-Fried's frequent public shilling of FTT and supposed TWAPing of the token were likely attempts to inflate its value artificially.

Alameda's Dormant Past and the Bug that Unlocked Withdrawals

Interestingly, Alameda's on-chain activity remained relatively dormant until the trading firm exploited a bug created by FTX's Director of Engineering Nishad Singh. This bug allowed Alameda to withdraw unlimited sums from FTX's account, providing a clear opportunity for the firm to divert customer funds for illicit purposes.

The on-chain transactions of Sam Bankman-Fried and Alameda Research paint a damning picture of market manipulation, misuse of customer funds, and a blatant disregard for industry ethics. These actions not only harmed the crypto ecosystem but also eroded trust in the industry. As the legal proceedings unfold, a thorough investigation of these transactions will be crucial in exposing the full extent of the damage caused by SBF and his associates.