Sam Bankman-Fried, the former billionaire wunderkind and founder of the bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange, received a 25-year prison sentence from a judge on Thursday for embezzling $8 billion from FTX customers. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan delivered the verdict at a Manhattan court hearing, dismissing Bankman-Fried’s assertion that FTX customers did not suffer losses and finding him guilty of seven counts of fraud and conspiracy related to FTX’s collapse in 2022, a case labeled by prosecutors as one of the largest financial frauds in U.S. history.

Judge Kaplan remarked that Bankman-Fried displayed no remorse, stating, “He knew it was wrong… He knew it was criminal.” Bankman-Fried, 32, clad in a beige short-sleeve jail T-shirt, addressed the court for about 20 minutes, expressing regret for the suffering of FTX customers and extending an apology to his former colleagues at FTX, though he did not admit to criminal wrongdoing. He declared plans to appeal his conviction and sentencing.

This verdict marks the climax of Bankman-Fried’s downfall from an immensely wealthy entrepreneur and significant political donor to a prominent target in the U.S. crackdown on misconduct in cryptocurrency markets. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the seriousness of defrauding customers and investors, cautioning against the belief that financial crimes can be shielded by wealth and influence.

Judge Kaplan’s ruling found that FTX customers lost $8 billion, with equity investors of FTX losing $1.7 billion, and lenders to Bankman-Fried’s Alameda Research hedge fund losing $1.3 billion. He issued an $11 billion forfeiture order and authorized the government to reimburse victims using seized assets.

Federal prosecutors had initially sought a 40 to 50-year sentence, while Bankman-Fried’s defense, led by Marc Mukasey, argued for less than 5-1/4 years.

In his address to the court, Bankman-Fried expressed remorse, stating, “Customers have been suffering… I didn’t intend to downplay that.” He also acknowledged the loss experienced by his FTX colleagues, recognizing the impact of his actions on their efforts. Three former associates, testifying as prosecution witnesses, revealed Bankman-Fried’s direction to utilize FTX customer funds to cover losses at Alameda Research, all of whom have pleaded guilty to fraud.

Judge Kaplan pointed out Bankman-Fried’s falsehoods during his trial testimony regarding his knowledge of Alameda Research’s use of customer deposits from FTX.

Mukasey sought to differentiate Bankman-Fried from infamous fraudsters such as Bernie Madoff, describing him as an “awkward math nerd” rather than a “ruthless financial serial killer.” Mukasey emphasized Bankman-Fried’s intent to return customers’ money following FTX’s collapse.

Bankman-Fried, visibly emotional, listened to Mukasey’s statements with reddened eyes, appearing to hold back tears. Following the proceedings, he was escorted out of the courtroom by U.S. Marshals after a brief discussion with his defense team.

The sentencing also highlighted Bankman-Fried’s rise from a Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate to a Forbes-listed billionaire by age 30, known for his dedication to effective altruism and substantial contributions to political causes. Judge Kaplan underscored evidence of Bankman-Fried’s donations to both Democratic and Republican candidates, noting his attempt to conceal contributions through “straw” donors.

In a concluding statement, the judge characterized Bankman-Fried’s portrayal of himself as a “good guy” as a facade, citing “power and influence” as his underlying motives.

Bankman-Fried has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since August 2023, following the revocation of his bail by Judge Kaplan due to suspected witness tampering on two occasions. Kaplan indicated that he would recommend Bankman-Fried serve his sentence at a prison facility near San Francisco.