He was a boy, and she was a girl—Ryan Salame and Michelle Bond once thrived as a dynamic power couple in the crypto industry. But their fortunes crumbled amid legal woes linked to FTX’s notorious meltdown.
Here’s the tragic story of Michelle Bond, the crypto lobbyist who Sam Bankman-Fried screwed.
From Crypto Power Duo to Legal Battleground
Ryan Salame, once an FTX executive, and Michelle Bond, a crypto policy expert eyeing politics, were key players in the space as late as last year. Their alliance, sparked by FTX’s controversial Sam Bankman-Fried, saw Salame funding conservative causes while Bond aimed for Congress.
His downfall highlights the chaos unleashed by FTX’s collapse, leaving investors counting their losses; Salame now faces over seven years in Maryland for campaign finance violations.
“Being in a relationship with me was going to be a problem,” Salame told the NYT. “It hasn’t been great for her, having me in her life.”
Ryan Salame was the only executive at FTX who wasn’t a partisan Democrat. You can imagine what Biden’s prosecutors did to him.
(0:00) Ryan Salame’s “Crimes”
(13:12) The DOJ’s Narrative
(22:26) How Was Sam Bankman-Fried’s Family Involved?
(38:49) How Salame Met SBF
(42:24) What… pic.twitter.com/0s5g72lzFS— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) October 9, 2024
Michelle Bond: Navigating the Storm
Michelle Bond, a key player in crypto advocacy, faces legal allegations of her own, including campaign finance violations tied to FTX. Despite these legal hurdles, she continues to be an influential figure in crypto, with her past efforts marking a push for industry recognition in political circles.
Their $4 million Potomac mansion, bought at FTX’s peak in 2022, is on the market, and all proceeds will be forfeited.
“It was presented to me in a way that if I played ball, Michelle was going to be fine.” – Ryan Salame
Even with all the legal pressure around her, Bond remains unbowed. She’s launched Digital Future, showcased at Bitcoin Nashville, a think tank that pushes the boundaries of cryptocurrency and AI innovation.
In the shadow of legal turmoil, Salame and Bond focus on rebuilding. Salame has channeled his reflections into a memoir, “Go Directly to Jail,” detailing his FTX experiences.
Looking Forward: What Does The Future Hold for Bond?
As Salame heads for prison and Bond fights on for the crypto cause, their future is a question mark. Their story highlights the urgent call for transparency and regulation that we’ll ostensibly see under a Donald Trump presidency.
With her think tank, Michelle Bond is on a mission to shape a secure and forward-thinking crypto environment. Their saga is a potent lesson to how much damage FTX has caused.
Disclaimer: Crypto is a high-risk asset class. This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. You could lose all of your capital.
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