Before Christmas, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was released from jail on a $250 million bail. He was extradited to the US after an eight-day stay in The Bahamas Fox Hill correctional facility. The former executive of the exchange faces charges for wire fraud, securities fraud, commodities fraud, and money laundering among others.
Also Read: FTX Customers File Class Action Lawsuit Claiming Assets
SBF In Talks With Michael Lewis
According to recent reports, SBF is staying in San Francisco with his parents who are well-known law professors at Stanford. A recent report from New York Post revealed that the FTX founder is likely turning his crypto tale into a “blockbuster” with the help of bestselling author Michael Lewis. Lewis has penned several hits including The Big Short and Moneyball.
Unnamed sources exclusively told The Post that the writer spent several hours inside the residence, hours after SBF landed on Friday. The report also stated that they were presumably talking about the latest twist in his crypto-downfall which saw him turn from a billionaire to facing up to 115 years in prison in a matter of weeks.
There are speculations going on that SBF’s collaboration with Lewis has been going on for more than six months now. However, it was reported first only after FTX’s collapse. A leaked note from Ankler revealed that Lewis’ publishing agency pitched the book to potential movie rights buyers.
The letter noted that the recent set of events provided “a dramatic surprise ending” to the story. Nevertheless, It mentioned that not a word of the book has been written yet.
Per sources, SBF’s parents have hosted several gatherings since the beginning of his house arrest. Notably, they have also notched up security. The house is also being watched by campus security from Stanford. Meanwhile, Bankman-Fried is due back in court in New York next week.
Also Read: Amazon approves eight-episode TV series on FTX collapse
The Crypto Community Reacts
The news is not sitting well with the crypto community. Nic Carter, Bitcoin proponent, and General Partner at Castle Island Ventures, replied under Watcher Guru’s tweet,
“Michael Lewis should be investigated too.”
Joining the conversation, Bloomberg’s Senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said that Lewis is probably “being fed lies” by SBF. He tweeted,
Prominent Economist and Bitcoin opponent Peter Schiff also felt the same and opined,
“If SBF is the source it will be a work of fiction. Michael Lewis needs to piece together what really happened from more reliable sources.”