--- title: "Grab Some Popcorn, Because SBF Is Gonna Testify at His Own Trial" description: "Sam Bankman-Fried's lawyer has revealed that the disgraced crypto CEO will take the witness stand at his own fraud trial." date: "2023-10-25" modified: "2023-10-25" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/sam-bankman-fried-testify-own-trial" categories: - "Blockchain" - "Cryptocurrency" - "Future Society" tags: - "crypto exchange" - "ftx" - "sam bankman-fried" - "the digest" --- # Grab Some Popcorn, Because SBF Is Gonna Testify at His Own Trial ![Sam Bankman-Fried's lawyer has revealed that the disgraced crypto CEO will take the witness stand at his own fraud trial.]() *\Image: ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images\* ## Taking the Stand Disgraced crypto baron Sam Bankman-Fried is no stranger to [tweeting through it](). After his FTX empire [collapsed in spectacular fashion]() last year, the former wunderkind CEO attempted to defend himself in a variety of ways — from [ill-advised blogs]() to [speaking with reporters]() against his lawyers' wishes — before finally shutting up. Now, weeks into his own trial, his [latest attorney]() has revealed that yes, Bankman-Fried will take the witness stand, the [*New York Times* reports]() — in the latest wild yet somehow unsurprising twist in the exchange epic downfall. ## Prison Complex Bankman-Fried has been accused of stealing billions of deposits from FTX customers and has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. He's potentially looking at spending the rest of his life behind bars. The evidence stacked against him so far looks pretty overwhelming, from [damning group chat exchanges]() between him and his collaborators to [eyebrow-raising testimony]() from his ex-girlfriend and former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison. In short, things are [not looking good]() for Bankman-Fried — and instead of having his lawyers duke it out on his behalf, it sounds like he's going to put himself out there in front of the court and the world. What could possibly go wrong? It's not inconceivable that he'll give prosecutors even more ammunition. But then again, he doesn't have an awful lot left to lose. **More on SBF:** *[Legal Experts Say SBF Is in Deep Trouble]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()