Sam Bankman-Fried's Trial Unveils Shocking Testimonies: FTX's Tangled Web of Deception

The third day of Sam Bankman-Fried's high-profile criminal trial in New York left the crypto community stunned as gripping testimonies continued to unravel the intricate saga surrounding FTX and Alameda. The spotlight shone brightly on Adam Yedidia, a close college friend and former developer at FTX, as he took the stand.

Yedidia's testimony sent ripples through the courtroom as he detailed his knowledge of funds flowing from FTX to Alameda, initially assuming they were merely being held. However, the revelation that Alameda was utilizing these funds came as a shock to him. Yedidia, the coder behind FTX's system, disclosed that it displayed an astonishing $8 billion in debt for Alameda, a figure that Sam Bankman-Fried dismissed as an error. The bombshell came when Yedidia admitted that he had contemplated staying with FTX even after its bankruptcy declaration but quickly resigned upon discovering Alameda's misuse of customer funds. The defense's attempt to downplay Bankman-Fried's lavish $35 million Bahamas apartment as a mere dormitory was met with a resounding denial from Yedidia, who deemed it far too luxurious. In a dramatic conclusion, Yedidia declared, "FTX defrauded its customers," leaving the courtroom in stunned silence.

The trial's intensity only escalated as Matt Huang, co-founder of Paradigm, took the stand. Huang recounted investing $278 million in FTX after a Zoom call with Sam Bankman-Fried, expressing concerns about FTX's ties with Alameda right from the beginning. The revelation that Paradigm invested without knowing that these funds were flowing directly to Alameda added fuel to the fire. Bankman-Fried's defense questioned Huang about FTX's lack of a board of directors, to which Huang revealed his prior attempts to address the issue with SBF, who resisted the idea.

The climax of the day came with the testimony of Gary Wang, CTO and co-founder of FTX, who dropped a bombshell that shook the courtroom to its core. Wang confessed to committing wire fraud at FTX alongside Nishad Singh, Caroline Ellison, and Sam Bankman-Fried. Their startling admission revolved around the granting of special privileges within FTX's code that allowed Alameda to withdraw unlimited funds. In a shocking twist, Bankman-Fried had added the word "Research" to Alameda, purportedly to facilitate the opening of bank accounts. The courtroom was left aghast as it was revealed that Sam owned a staggering 90% of Alameda, while Wang held 10%. FTX was not spared from the scandal, as Wang disclosed that he owned 17%, with a whopping 65% belonging to Sam Bankman-Fried.

Day 3 of Sam Bankman-Fried's criminal trial proved to be a gripping spectacle that unfolded before a captivated audience, both inside and outside the courtroom. The shocking testimonies of Yedidia, Huang, and Wang unveiled a web of deception, intrigue, and financial irregularities that left the crypto world in disbelief. As the trial continues, the crypto community watches with bated breath, eager to see how this dramatic saga will ultimately unfold and impact the future of FTX and Alameda in the world of cryptocurrencies.

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