FTX Founder SBF Interviewed Post-Audit: Never Thought I Would Violate the Law, Troubled by Loss Every Day

Last week, FTX founder SBF, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison, expressed remorse in an email sent to the American Broadcasting Company from the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) Brooklyn. He claimed that he never thought what he did was illegal and every day in prison, he thinks about how to compensate users in full.

Latest: FTX founder SBF sentenced to 25 years in prison

SBF Interviewed via Email for the First Time Since Incarceration

Recently, SBF Sam Bankman-Fried has granted an exclusive interview to ABC News, a subsidiary of ABC, marking his first interview after the trial.

A few days ago, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison and fined over $11 billion for charges including fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering.

SBF's Final Words in Court Before Sentencing to 25 Years: Apology to FTX Colleagues

Never Intended to Harm Anyone

SBF first expressed apologies to the affected users, expressing regret for his actions and being troubled by these thoughts:

The things I've lost have been weighing on my mind, and I'm willing to give everything to make up for the losses.

He also added, "I never intended to harm anyone or take anyone's money."

However, Judge Lewis Kaplan mentioned during the trial that SBF had not shown any remorse for the heinous crimes he committed.

Never Thought His Actions Were Illegal

Furthermore, SBF emphasized that he never thought his actions were illegal but admitted to not meeting the standards he should have:

I never thought what I was doing was illegal. I tried to hold myself to a high standard, but I clearly fell short of that standard.

He stated, "I've seen and heard the despair, frustration, and sense of betrayal from thousands of users, and their compensation should be paid in full based on current prices."

Reiterating: Capable of Fully Repaying Funds

At the same time, SBF reiterated in the email that FTX and Alameda both have sufficient assets to fully repay FTX's creditors:

FTX's bankruptcy is the result of several "wrong decisions" I made in 2022, not the result of selfish behavior, and we have the ability and willingness to repay.

However, the judge in court had already refuted this claim, stating that SBF's statement was misleading and logically flawed.

SBF Apologizes: Sorry to Colleagues and Charities

As previously reported, SBF also expressed apologies to FTX employees, mentioning former PR director Natalie, former CTO Gary, former Engineering Director Nishad Singh, and former Alameda CEO Caroline, stating that he had disappointed them through a series of wrong decisions:

I also felt the pain of all the employees when I abandoned the business they had poured their hearts into. They gave their lives to FTX, and I abandoned them.

He added, "I also feel the pain of the charities that FTX has long supported because our funds have only brought them reputational damage."

On the other hand, SBF's legal team revealed in the interview that they will file an appeal within the next two weeks, pointing out that some testimonies were "seriously misleading" and provided no relevant evidence or witnesses.

How the Crypto Community Views SBF's Sentence: Is 25 Years Too Light? Comments from the Crypto Community and Vitalik