From crypto king to prison inmate: Inside details of Sam Bankman-Fried's jail life

NEW DELHI: Sam Bankman-Fried, the former cryptocurrency mogul and founder of the now-defunct FTX exchange, has opened up about his daily life and legal battles in his first detailed interview since his imprisonment. Conducted from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he is serving a 25-year sentence, Bankman-Fried revealed to Puck News' William D Cohan that he lives in a large, dormitory-style room with 35 other inmates, surviving mainly on beans and rice from the commissary.This staple diet has turned rice into an unexpected form of currency within the prison walls, with inmates using it to barter for other goods.
During the interview, which had to be conducted without the aid of recording devices or notes due to prison regulations, Bankman-Fried discussed his adaptation to prison life. He described a routine that includes less engagement with the available television sets and more time spent on a tablet playing games or watching movies. Notably thinner, having lost approximately 25 pounds, he commented on the vegan meals provided, which he and other inmates find inedible, even comparing their smell to "shit." Despite the harsh conditions, he said he has not experienced abuse and does not fear for his personal safety, though he did mention being pestered by other inmates for his rice at night, an Insider report said.
Bankman-Fried also reiterated his stance on the legal proceedings, insisting on his innocence and expressing his intentions to appeal his conviction on several counts including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy. These charges stem from allegations that he misappropriated billions of dollars of FTX customer funds—a scandal that US Attorney Damian Williams labeled as one of the largest financial frauds in American history. As Bankman-Fried navigates these challenges, he remains a central figure in ongoing discussions about the regulation and risks associated with cryptocurrency markets.