Throughout a second day of cross-examination, the 31-year-old former billionaire mentioned he had thought it “permissible” for his Alameda Analysis hedge fund to make use of cash that FTX clients had deposited right into a checking account the fund managed.
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FTX directed clients to deposit funds into the Alameda account earlier than the trade had its personal checking account.
Bankman-Fried mentioned he believed that Alameda’s borrowings have been being recorded on its principal FTX account, and solely discovered it was not in October 2022.
“I deeply remorse not taking a deeper look into it,” he mentioned.
Bankman-Fried was attempting to persuade the 12-person jury to acquit him of the 2 counts of fraud and 5 counts of conspiracy he faces.
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Prosecutors say Bankman-Fried illegally looted billions of {dollars} of buyer funds to prop up Alameda, made speculative enterprise investments, and donated upwards of $100 million to U.S. political campaigns. He might face a long time in jail if convicted.
Bankman-Fried ceaselessly regarded towards jurors as he testified, sometimes frowning or smirking at how Sassoon framed her questions.
His father, Stanford Legislation Faculty professor Joseph Bankman, attended Tuesday’s session, as soon as passing a notice to his son’s attorneys.
Sassoon challenged Bankman-Fried on how he had talked with different FTX executives a few bug had that had in June 2022 inflated Alameda’s debt to FTX, however didn’t examine it deeply regardless of proudly owning 90% of Alameda.
“In addition they have been busy, and I had prioritized getting the excessive degree replace,” he mentioned.
Sassoon additionally grilled Bankman-Fried on what she referred to as his “cozy” relationship with officers within the Bahamas, the place the cryptocurrency trade was based mostly.
Bankman-Fried mentioned he couldn’t bear in mind whether or not he supplied to pay the Bahamas’ $11.6 billion nationwide debt, or gave the prime minister and his spouse courtside seats at a Miami Warmth basketball recreation on the staff’s house area, then named for FTX.
Sassoon then confirmed Bankman-Fried a textual content message through which he advised co-workers the couple sat courtside at a recreation.
The prosecutor additionally requested about Bankman-Fried’s choice to let FTX clients within the Bahamas withdraw funds after withdrawals for others had been halted.
Bankman-Fried mentioned he thought Bahamian regulators had recommended permitting it.
Earlier within the trial, former FTX government Gary Wang, who pleaded responsible to fraud and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, mentioned Bankman-Fried sought to switch management of funds to the Bahamas after FTX’s Nov. 11, 2022, U.S. chapter as a result of he thought authorities may let him keep in cost.
The embassy of the Bahamas in Washington didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Beneath direct examination from his attorneys, Bankman-Fried had testified that he had made “errors” that damage FTX clients and staff however denied defrauding anybody or stealing funds.