Cryptocurrency exchange FTX‘s founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, said he didn’t try to commit fraud in a live virtual interview with the New York Times.
Bankman-Fried told the outlet that his lawyers didn’t want him to do the interview but that he decided to anyway because he believed he had “a duty to talk and to explain what happened.” While admitting he “messed up,” Bankman-Fried denied any wrongdoing or illegal activity. He was unable to give a straight answer when asked if he believed he could be held criminally liable, saying he believes he still has a future. He also said he believes he could leave the Bahamas, where he is situated currently, if he wanted to.
When asked if he was concerned about any criminal liability being held against him, Bankman-Fried said it’s “not what I’m focusing on.”
‘I’VE HAD A BAD MONTH’: FTX FOUNDER SAYS HE DIDN’T TRY TO COMMIT FRAUD
“There’s gonna be a time and a place for me to sort of think about myself and my own future, but I don’t think this is it,” he said. “I mean, look, I’ve had a bad month.”
“What matters here is the millions of customers. What matters here is all the stakeholders in FTX who got hurt and trying to do everything I can to help them out, and as long as that’s the case, I don’t think that what happens with me is the important part of that, and I don’t think that’s what makes sense for me to be focusing on,” he said.
.@SBF_FTX: “I don’t personally think that I have [criminal liability] … I think the real answer is, that’s not what I’m focusing on … I mean, look. I’ve had a bad month” pic.twitter.com/HGuEYHVdTn
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) November 30, 2022
Bankman-Fried took the opportunity to deny reports about widespread drug use at FTX parties.
“There were no wild parties. At our parties, we play board games. Twenty percent of people would have a quarter of a beer each, and the rest of us would not drink anything,” he said, though he noted that he has been prescribed medication to help him concentrate.
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He also claimed that he only had $100,000 left in his bank account.
