--- title: "Former Crypto CEO Posts Hilarious LinkedIn Update Right Before Going to Prison" description: "Before checking into federal prison today, disgraced former FTX co-CEO Ryan Salame took to LinkedIn to issue a career update." date: "2024-10-11" modified: "2024-10-11" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/crypto-ceo-linkedin-prison" categories: - "Blockchain" - "Cryptocurrency" - "Future Society" tags: - "crypto" - "crypto bros" - "ftx" - "the digest" --- # Former Crypto CEO Posts Hilarious LinkedIn Update Right Before Going to Prison ![Before checking into federal prison today, disgraced former FTX co-CEO Ryan Salame took to LinkedIn to issue a career update.]() *\Image: Ryan Salame\* ## Hustle Mindset The LinkedIn grind never stops — not even for prison. Ryan Salame, the former co-CEO of the [now-defunct crypto exchange FTX](), was [sentenced]() in May to seven and a half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to criminal charges related to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business and unlawful campaign donations. In addition to serving time in prison, Salame was [ordered to forfeit]() $1.5 billion. Salame was a Republican megadonor in 2022, handing out millions in campaign funds that the Department of Justice [argued]() were [straw donations]() designed to "increase FTX's profile" and "curry favor with candidates that could help pass legislation favorable to FTX." But it was a sharp, hard fall from grace for the former crypto titan, whose prison term starts today at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Cumberland, Maryland. And last night, before checking in for his new role, the disgraced crypto executive decided to take to LinkedIn to issue a... career update. "I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position," Salame wrote in a LinkedIn post, "as Inmate at FCI Cumberland!" ![]() ## Former Free Man At FTX, Salame served as the right hand of the company's [now-notorious founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried](). He was the [first]() FTX executive to receive prison time for his role in the crypto firm's [spectacular 2022 meltdown](). Bankman-Fried, who pleaded not guilty to a slew of charges related to fraud and conspiracy, lost his court battle and was [sentenced to 25 years in federal jail](). Caroline Ellison, another inner-circle FTX associate and former CEO of the closely-tied hedge fund Alameda Research, was [sentenced]() just last week to two years in federal prison after [pleading guilty]() to conspiracy and fraud charges — a sentence likely lightened by her [decision to cooperate]() with prosecutors. According [to *The New York Times*](), Salame married the crypto lobbyist and attempted politician Michelle Bond last month in Nevada. As [*Coindesk* reported earlier this year](), Bond was indicted in April for accepting illegal campaign dollars — from Salame — during her failed 2022 congressional run. And by the way, the former executive isn't just trolling-slash-probably-coping about his prison sentence on LinkedIn; over [on X-formerly-Twitter](), his profile picture is a photo of him wearing what appears to be a cheap prisoner costume. "7.5 year prison sentence," reads the disgraced crypto CEO's X bio, modeling the professional bios often seen across the social media platform. "Former: Free man, US Republican Mega-donor, CEO of FTX Digital Markets." "Not a lawyer," he added. **More on FTX:** [*Sam Bankman-Fried Turns on Celebrities Who Promoted FTX to Gullible Fans*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()