FTX's Ryan Salame Is Going to Prison. Here’s What He Has to Say - Ep. 718

Ryan Salame, the former CEO of FTX Digital Markets, is headed to prison, but not before sharing his side of the story. Ryan talks candidly about the decisions he made at FTX, why he withdrew millions of dollars worth of assets in the days leading up to its bankruptcy, and the backstory behind the Thai prostitute trading scheme to unfreeze Alameda’s funds in China. He also disputes the claims about his campaign finance violations, while explaining why he thinks Caroline Ellison is “at least as guilty as SBF” and that Nishad Singh lied.
Show highlights:

Ryan’s life pre-FTX and how he got into crypto

His three attempts to quit working at FTX

How Ryan committed campaign finance violations

Why Ryan disputes claims that FTX misled banks and misused customer funds

How Ryan was involved in setting up trading accounts with the identities of Thai prostitutes to unfreeze Alameda’s funds

Whether Ryan was involved in bribing a Chinese official

Why he withdrew millions of dollars worth of assets from his FTX accounts right before its bankruptcy

Why Ryan claims he was cooperative with prosecutors, despite common belief

How he refuses to comment on his wife Michelle Bond's case, but denies wrongdoing

Why Ryan pleaded the Fifth Amendment

His allegations that prosecutors lied to his lawyers about whether they would pursue charges against Michelle

Why he thinks that SBF could have never coerced Caroline Ellison and whether Ellison is “equally guilty” as SBF

Why Ryan believes Nishad Singh lied to save himself and his take on Gary Wang

How, if he didn’t know about the fraud, he could be so certain that Caroline or Nishad lied

Whether the legal advice from FTX’s and Alameda’s lawyers should have been considered in Bankman-Fried's trial

Whether testimony from more employees could have created reasonable doubt in SBF's trial

Why Ryan is going to law school

His plans post-prison

What Ryan learned from the FTX debacle

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Guest:

Ryan Salame, former CEO of FTX Digital Markets

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