Unchained

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

Listen Later

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

    • Visit our website for breaking news, analysis, op-eds, articles to learn about crypto, and much more: unchainedcrypto.com

    Thank you to our sponsors!
    • Polkadot
    • Mantle
      • Guest:
      Ryan Salame, former CEO of FTX Digital Markets

      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store
      UnchainedBy Laura Shin
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6

      4.6

      1,182 ratings

      More shows like Unchained

      View all
      CoinDesk Podcast Network by CoinDesk

      CoinDesk Podcast Network

      640 Listeners

      The Pomp Podcast by Anthony Pompliano

      The Pomp Podcast

      1,833 Listeners

      The Breakdown by Blockworks

      The Breakdown

      747 Listeners

      On The Brink with Castle Island by Castle Island Ventures

      On The Brink with Castle Island

      288 Listeners

      What Bitcoin Did by Danny Knowles

      What Bitcoin Did

      254 Listeners

      Markets Daily Crypto Roundup by CoinDesk

      Markets Daily Crypto Roundup

      135 Listeners

      Bankless by Bankless

      Bankless

      1,047 Listeners

      The Wolf Of All Streets by Scott Melker

      The Wolf Of All Streets

      231 Listeners

      Empire by Blockworks

      Empire

      167 Listeners

      Supply Shock by Blockworks

      Supply Shock

      111 Listeners

      Coin Stories by Natalie Brunell

      Coin Stories

      426 Listeners

      Raoul Pal: The Journey Man by Real Vision Podcast Network

      Raoul Pal: The Journey Man

      126 Listeners

      The Milk Road Show by The Milk Road Show

      The Milk Road Show

      40 Listeners

      web3 with a16z crypto by a16z crypto, Robert Hackett, Sonal Chokshi

      web3 with a16z crypto

      62 Listeners

      1000x by Blockworks

      1000x

      5 Listeners