Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX, recently gave his first video interview from prison with Tucker Carlson. He is serving a 25-year sentence for his role in the collapse of FTX.
In the interview, he defended his actions and beliefs, claiming that FTX would still be successful if not for outside interference. He stated that the exchange could have had $93 billion in assets, contrasting with its $15 billion in liabilities. Bankman-Fried argued that declaring bankruptcy was a mistake and that FTX had enough resources to pay back its creditors.
Even from prison, his views on the cryptocurrency industry have not changed much since FTX’s downfall in 2022. He minimized the growth of crime in crypto, saying that scams today are smaller than those in the early days, like the Silk Road. When asked about his finances, he admitted he had no liquid assets but still believed FTX could have been profitable if things had gone differently.
Bankman-Fried also talked about his political journey, expressing disappointment with the Democratic Party. He revealed that by 2022, he was donating equally to Republicans and Democrats, which he thought might have affected his situation. He discussed his significant contributions to Biden’s 2020 campaign and how it may have led to his downfall.
The interview wasn’t all serious; they also touched on lighter topics, like his prison life. Bankman-Fried joked about using muffins as “prison money” and mentioned his upcoming birthday in jail, even commenting on celebrities who are also incarcerated.
Looking ahead, he is trying to appeal his conviction, though he knows his chances are slim. Throughout the interview, he maintained that FTX’s failure was not entirely his fault and believed it could have succeeded with better management. However, it’s important to consider his biased viewpoint, as he is still facing criminal charges and is removed from the situation.
