加密货币大佬的量刑之路：山姆·班克曼-弗里德的兴衰

The Rise and Fall of a Crypto Kingpin: Sam Bankman-Fried's Path to Sentencing

加密货币大佬的兴衰：山姆·班克曼-弗里德的量刑之路

In the annals of modern finance, the tale of Sam Bankman-Fried stands as a cautionary fable of hubris, deception, and the spectacular downfall of a once-heralded titan. As the founder and CEO of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX, Bankman-Fried's meteoric ascent to the pinnacle of the crypto world was abruptly halted by a wave of revelations that exposed a web of fraudulent practices and reckless mismanagement.

在现代金融史册中，萨姆·班克曼·弗里德的故事是一个警示寓言，讲述了一位曾经被誉为巨人的傲慢、欺骗和惊人的垮台。作为现已解散的加密货币交易所 FTX 的创始人兼首席执行官，班克曼·弗里德 (Bankman-Fried) 迅速登上加密货币世界顶峰的步伐，因一系列欺诈行为和鲁莽管理不善网络的曝光而戛然而止。

A Quantum Leap into the Cryptoverse

进入加密世界的量子飞跃

Sam Bankman-Fried's journey into the depths of cryptocurrency began in 2017, when he left his quantitative trading job at Jane Street Capital to establish Alameda Research, a cryptocurrency trading firm. His vision was to capitalize on the burgeoning market for digital assets, a nascent realm rife with volatility and uncharted territory.

Sam Bankman-Fried 深入加密货币的旅程始于 2017 年，当时他辞去了 Jane Street Capital 的量化交易工作，成立了加密货币交易公司 Alameda Research。他的愿景是利用新兴的数字资产市场，这是一个充满波动和未知领域的新兴领域。

FTX: A Crypto Empire on Shaky Ground

FTX：摇摇欲坠的加密帝国

In May 2019, Bankman-Fried joined forces with Gary Wang, a former Google employee, to launch FTX, a platform designed to facilitate the trading of crypto tokens and derivatives. The exchange rapidly gained traction, buoyed by the soaring popularity of cryptocurrencies and Bankman-Fried's reputation as a savvy investor.

2019 年 5 月，Bankman-Fried 与谷歌前员工 Gary Wang 联手推出了 FTX，这是一个旨在促进加密代币和衍生品交易的平台。得益于加密货币的飙升和班克曼·弗里德作为精明投资者的声誉，该交易所迅速获得了关注。

The Pinnacle of Success and the Seeds of Doubt

成功的顶峰和怀疑的种子

FTX's ascent to prominence reached its zenith in October 2021, when the company secured $420 million in venture funding, valuing the fledgling enterprise at a staggering $25 billion. Bankman-Fried himself emerged as a billionaire, his net worth estimated at $22.5 billion by Forbes magazine, a figure that would balloon to $26 billion before year's end.

FTX 的崛起在 2021 年 10 月达到顶峰，当时该公司获得了 4.2 亿美元的风险投资，这家新兴企业的估值达到惊人的 250 亿美元。班克曼-弗里德本人已成为亿万富翁，《福布斯》杂志估计他的净资产为 225 亿美元，这一数字在年底前将飙升至 260 亿美元。

Cryptomania and the "Don't Miss Out" Frenzy

加密狂热和“不要错过”的狂热

The Super Bowl broadcast in February 2022 served as a testament to the pervasiveness of cryptocurrency fever, with a barrage of advertisements touting the benefits of digital assets. Among the most memorable was FTX's "Don't Miss Out" spot, featuring actor Larry David's skepticism portrayed as akin to primitive man's resistance to the wheel.

2022 年 2 月播出的超级碗节目证明了加密货币热的普遍存在，大量广告宣传数字资产的好处。其中最令人难忘的是 FTX 的“Don't Miss Out”广告，其中演员拉里·大卫 (Larry David) 的怀疑态度被描绘成类似于原始人对车轮的抵制。

The White Knight and a Web of Support

白骑士和支持网

As the cryptocurrency market underwent a downturn, Bankman-Fried emerged as the self-proclaimed "white knight" of the industry. Alameda extended a $200 million credit line to crypto lender Voyager Digital, while FTX provided a $250 million loan to BlockFi. These actions cemented Bankman-Fried's reputation as a rescuer of distressed crypto companies.

随着加密货币市场的低迷，班克曼-弗里德成为了自称为行业“白衣骑士”的人。 Alameda 向加密货币贷款机构 Voyager Digital 提供了 2 亿美元的信贷额度，而 FTX 则向 BlockFi 提供了 2.5 亿美元的贷款。这些行动巩固了班克曼-弗里德作为陷入困境的加密货币公司救助者的声誉。

The Crack in the Facade

门面的裂缝

On November 2, 2022, the edifice of FTX began to crumble when crypto news website CoinDesk exposed a leaked Alameda Research balance sheet that revealed a substantial portion of the firm's assets were held in FTX's own token, FTT. The weight of this disclosure caused the value of FTT to plummet by around $400 million, triggering a chain reaction of events that would ultimately lead to FTX's collapse.

2022 年 11 月 2 日，当加密货币新闻网站 CoinDesk 曝光了一份泄露的 Alameda Research 资产负债表时，FTX 的大厦开始崩溃，该资产负债表显示该公司的很大一部分资产是以 FTX 自己的代币 FTT 持有的。这一披露的影响力导致 FTT 的价值暴跌约 4 亿美元，引发一系列事件的连锁反应，最终导致 FTX 崩溃。

The Collapse and the Unraveling

崩溃与瓦解

In the wake of the FTT debacle, FTX faced a wave of customer withdrawals that it was unable to meet. On November 11, 2022, Bankman-Fried resigned as FTX's CEO, and the company filed for bankruptcy protection. The once-lauded crypto exchange had crumbled, leaving behind a trail of bewildered investors and shattered confidence.

FTT 崩溃后，FTX 面临着一波无法应对的客户撤回潮。 2022年11月11日，Bankman-Fried辞去FTX首席执行官职务，该公司申请破产保护。这家曾经备受赞誉的加密货币交易所已经崩溃，留下了一批困惑的投资者和粉碎的信心。

Arrest, Extradition, and a Guilty Plea

逮捕、引渡和认罪

The fall from grace continued on December 12, 2022, when Bankman-Fried was arrested in the Bahamas, where he resided and where FTX had its headquarters. A federal grand jury in Manhattan indicted him on charges of fraud and conspiracy. The following day, Bankman-Fried left the Bahamas after agreeing to extradition to the United States. While in transit, prosecutors announced that Wang and Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison had pleaded guilty and pledged to cooperate with the authorities.

2022 年 12 月 12 日，班克曼·弗里德 (Bankman-Fried) 的失宠仍在继续，他在巴哈马群岛被捕，他居住在那里，也是 FTX 总部所在地。曼哈顿的一个联邦大陪审团以欺诈和共谋罪名起诉他。第二天，班克曼-弗里德在同意引渡到美国后离开巴哈马。在运送途中，检察官宣布王和阿拉米达首席执行官卡罗琳·埃里森已认罪并承诺与当局合作。

Initial Appearance and Home Detention

初次出庭和居家拘留

Bankman-Fried made his initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on December 22, 2022, and was released to home detention at his parents' residence in Palo Alto, California, on a $250 million bond. The seemingly lenient bail conditions were based on Bankman-Fried's lack of criminal history and his surrender to authorities.

班克曼-弗里德于 2022 年 12 月 22 日首次在曼哈顿联邦法院出庭，并以 2.5 亿美元的保释金被释放，在家中拘留在其父母位于加利福尼亚州帕洛阿尔托的住所。看似宽松的保释条件是基于班克曼-弗里德没有犯罪记录，并且他向当局自首。

Bail Revoked Amid Tampering Allegations

因篡改指控而撤销保释

However, Bankman-Fried's time under house arrest was short-lived. On August 11, 2023, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan revoked Bankman-Fried's bail after finding probable cause to believe he tampered with witnesses. Prosecutors presented evidence that Bankman-Fried had attempted to contact a witness by sharing Ellison's private writings with a New York Times reporter, an act that violated the terms of his bail. Bankman-Fried was remanded to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn to await trial.

然而，班克曼-弗里德的软禁时间很短。 2023 年 8 月 11 日，美国地区法官刘易斯·卡普兰 (Lewis Kaplan) 在找到合理理由相信班克曼-弗里德篡改证人后，撤销了他的保释。检察官提供的证据表明，班克曼-弗里德曾试图通过与《纽约时报》记者分享埃里森的私人著作来联系证人，这一行为违反了他的保释条款。班克曼-弗里德被还押到布鲁克林大都会拘留中心等待审判。

Trial and Defense

审判与辩护

The trial commenced in Manhattan federal court on October 3, 2023. Bankman-Fried took the stand in his own defense on October 28, acknowledging the collapse of FTX but denying allegations of fraud or theft. He portrayed himself as a well-intentioned entrepreneur overwhelmed by the rapid growth of his company.

审判于 2023 年 10 月 3 日在曼哈顿联邦法院开始。Bankman-Fried 于 10 月 28 日出庭为自己辩护，承认 FTX 倒闭，但否认欺诈或盗窃指控。他将自己描绘成一位善意的企业家，对公司的快速发展感到不知所措。

Conviction and Impending Sentencing

定罪和即将判刑

On November 2, 2023, a jury found Bankman-Fried guilty on all seven counts against him, including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit fraud. The verdict marked the culmination of a tumultuous year that had witnessed the rise and fall of a once-revered figure in the financial world.

2023 年 11 月 2 日，陪审团裁定班克曼-弗里德犯有全部七项罪名，包括电汇欺诈、洗钱和共谋欺诈。这一判决标志着动荡的一年达到了顶峰，这一年见证了一位曾经在金融界受人尊敬的人物的兴衰。

Sentencing Day

宣判日

Sam Bankman-Fried's journey comes full circle on March 28, 2024, when he faces sentencing for his fraud conviction. The eyes of the world will be upon the courtroom as Judge Kaplan determines the appropriate punishment for the complex and controversial figure who has captivated the public's attention with his audacious exploits and subsequent downfall. With the imposition of a sentence, the curtain will fall on the extraordinary tale of Sam Bankman-Fried, a tale that has shaken the crypto world and served as a cautionary reminder of the perils of greed, hubris, and unchecked ambition.

Sam Bankman-Fried 的旅程于 2024 年 3 月 28 日圆满结束，他将因欺诈罪被判刑。当卡普兰法官决定对这位复杂而有争议的人物进行适当的惩罚时，全世界的目光都将集中在法庭上，这位复杂而有争议的人物以其大胆的行为和随后的垮台吸引了公众的注意力。随着判决的执行，山姆·班克曼-弗里德 (Sam Bankman-Fried) 的非凡故事将落下帷幕，这个故事震撼了加密世界，并警示人们贪婪、傲慢和不受控制的野心的危险。