Appeals Court Seems Unmoved by Sam Bankman-Fried’s Claims of an Unfair Trial

During a hearing on November 4, 2025, former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried faced skepticism from appellate judges regarding his appeal for a new trial. His attorney, Alexandra Shapiro, argued that Bankman-Fried was denied the opportunity to present evidence that FTX was solvent at the time of its bankruptcy in November 2022. Shapiro claimed this lack of evidence affected the trial's fairness, as did restrictions on how Bankman-Fried could convey his narrative, including evidence of his lawyers' involvement. In response, prosecutors emphasized that substantial evidence of fraud was presented in the original trial. The judges questioned the legitimacy of Shapiro's arguments, indicating doubts about Bankman-Fried's position and the validity of claims of good faith reliance on legal counsel. The appeal hinges on Bankman-Fried's assertion that creditors were compensated through asset sales, thus arguing against the claim of fraud or theft.

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