
Last Words
We just made some mistakes.” – Sam Bankman-Fried
Raised
$1.8 billion — disappeared like altcoins in a rug pull
Cause of Death
Turned out the “safest” part was a lie.
Notable twist
$32B valuation. $1.8B raised. $0 in accountability.
Details
FTX wasn’t just a crypto exchange — it was crypto’s golden child. Founded by Sam Bankman-Fried, it promised institutional-grade security and speed. Celebrities endorsed it. The Super Bowl featured it. At its peak, FTX was worth $32B. Then it all crumbled. Billions in customer funds were secretly funneled to an affiliated hedge fund, Alameda Research. When the truth leaked, the collapse was instant. FTX filed for bankruptcy, and SBF was convicted of fraud. It wasn’t just a startup that failed — it was a financial black hole dressed as a trusted brand.
Pitch: “The safest, fastest way to trade crypto.”