SBF Trial, Day 3: Why a True Believer in FTX Flipped Once He Learned One Fact
Oct 6, 2023
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Former FTX software developer, Paradigm co-founder, and FTX and Alameda co-founder discuss FTX's code bug, lack of corporate controls, financial crimes, and implementations for Alameda. Yedidia's emotional account reveals why he changed his beliefs about FTX.
Former FTX software developer Adam Yudidia testified about a bug in FTX's code base that caused an exaggerated debt of $8 billion from Alameda research to FTX customers, leading him to conclude that FTX had defrauded its customers.
Matt Huang, co-founder of Paradigm, testified about their concern over FTX's lack of corporate controls and how customer deposits are considered sacred, as Paradigm's investment of $278 million in FTX ended up being marked to zero.
Deep dives
Testimony of Adam Yudidia
During the trial, former FTX software developer Adam Yudidia testified about a bug in FTX's code base that caused an exaggerated debt of $8 billion from Alameda research to FTX customers. Yudidia had a conversation with Sam Bingman Freed, the former FTX CEO, who admitted that the company was no longer 'bulletproof.' Yudidia later discovered that Alameda had used FTX customer deposits to pay off its loans, leading him to conclude that FTX had defrauded its customers.
Testimony of Matt Huang
Matt Huang, co-founder of Paradigm, testified about the investment firm's interest in FTX and how the lack of corporate governance structures at FTX concerned them. Huang mentioned that customer deposits are considered sacred, and customers expect to be able to withdraw them. Paradigm had invested $278 million in FTX, but their investment ended up being marked to zero.
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FTX Bug, Resignation, and Changing Beliefs: Sam Bingford Trial Recap
Laura reports on the testimony of three witnesses on Thursday, including one who declared that “FTX defrauded all of its customers” and another stating that he had committed financial crimes at the direction of Sam Bankman-Fried.
Former FTX software developer Adam Yedidia, Paradigm co-founder Matt Huang, and FTX and Alameda co-founder Gary Wang filled in the details of different aspects of FTX and Alameda’s business. Huang’s testimony detailed how Paradigm expressed concern about FTX’s lack of corporate controls and how the company was “owned and controlled by Sam.” Wang has only started his testimony but has already said he implemented advantages for Alameda into FTX’s code at Bankman-Fried’s direction.
Yedidia’s account had the most emotional details, describing how he had a strong belief in the company, to the point where, when employees began leaving FTX, he had messaged Bankman-Fried that he loved him and wasn’t going anywhere, but that it flipped once he realized “FTX defrauded all of its customers.” Find out what new information caused him to have a change of heart in this episode.
If you need to catch up, don’t miss our recent coverage on the trial: