Following a sentencing hearing in federal court, former FTX CEO Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried has been sentenced to 25 years in prison by Judge Lewis Kaplan of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The sentencing comes after Bankman-Fried's conviction on seven felony charges related to the collapse of the exchange in November 2022.

Judge Kaplan found Bankman-Fried guilty of witness tampering and perjury based on his actions during the trial regarding FTX user funds. Despite Bankman-Fried's claims of innocence and apologies for the consequences of the collapse, Judge Kaplan emphasized the severity of the crimes committed, stating that the punishment must align with the seriousness of the offense.

Bankman-Fried's sentencing was attended by members of the public and officials, with the former CEO appearing in light brown clothes, the uniform of the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he has been held since his bail was revoked.

During the sentencing, Judge Kaplan rejected arguments about loss and emphasized that a rise in cryptocurrency value did not diminish the gravity of the crimes committed. Bankman-Fried's attorneys portrayed him as a misunderstood genius, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Roos emphasized the lack of acceptance of responsibility from the former CEO.

Bankman-Fried's sentence falls between recommendations from his attorneys and prosecutors, with many experts anticipating a sentence in the range of 10 to 30 years. Meanwhile, four other individuals associated with FTX and Alameda charged in the same case have pleaded guilty and accepted deals, with one individual likely to face sentencing next.