In a collection of previously undisclosed documents recently brought to light by The New York Times, former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) emerges as a candid critic, sharing his perspectives on the unravelling of FTX.
These confidential documents, spanning approximately 250 pages, is thus far unreleased to the public.
What Were SBF's Confessions?
Following a period of personal reflection during his house arrest, SBF openly discussed his intricate relationships within the context of the exchange's demise.
Expressing a sense of being widely vilified, he delved into the dynamics of his earlier associations with key figures tied to FTX and Alameda Research.
He levied partial blame on Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison, who was also, at one point, his romantic partner.
He contended that under Caroline's leadership, a more robust hedging strategy might have preserved FTX's financial stability and averted its downturn:
“[Ellison] continually avoided talking about risk management — dodging my suggestions — until it was too late … Every time that I reached out with suggestions, it just made her feel worse. I’m sure that being exes didn’t help."
Additionally, he turned his scrutiny towards Alameda Research co-CEO Sam Trabucco, acknowledging Sam Trabucco's acumen in risk management but raising concerns about his commitment.
SBF noted Sam Trabucco's apparent preoccupation with travel and dating, suggesting it diverted focus from the core responsibilities at hand.
In a different vein, SBF offered critique directed at FTX's bankruptcy lawyers.
In a reference to Christopher Nolan's 2010 film "Inception," he alleged that Sullivan & Cromwell had been instrumental in crafting a narrative that erroneously painted him as misappropriating customer funds.
He also had reportedly wrote that:
“I'm broke and wearing an ankle monitor and one of the most hated people in the world…There will probably never be anything I can do to make my lifetime impact net positive…And the truth is that I did what I thought was right."
Are The Documents Available To The Public?
SBF's unpublished collection of documents encompasses an extensive 250 pages of material that remains outside the public domain.
These documents initially found their way into the hands of Tiffany Fong during her visit to SBF during his period of house arrest, with the exchange occurring in January.
Subsequently, she shared one of these documents with a former FTX engineer, Aditya Baradwaj, who raised the argument that Alameda's hedging practices might have assumed a less pivotal role had FTX not allegedly misappropriated customer funds.
In a subsequent development, Tiffany forwarded these documents to The New York Times, which has since referenced and quoted excerpts from them in its latest coverage of the unfolding situation.
Coincidentally, it is worth noting that SBF had earlier provided documents related to the former Alameda Research CEO, Caroline Ellison, to The New York Times, either in or before July 2023.
This decision on his part ultimately resulted in the revocation of his bail and his present incarceration, driven by concerns surrounding potential witness tampering.