Where is Sam Bankman-Fried? We know he is in the Bahamas. But he’s still “free” despite all the lawsuits against him, so can we really be sure?
SBF v BitBoy
He’s the most hated man in cryptocurrency, aside from Do Kwon, and it seems as if he is being protected by the Bahamian government pending investigation.
For one man, this is not enough. Who is this brave man? His name is Bitboy.
Transforming himself into a private detective, Ben Armstrong, aka BitBoy, has traveled to the Bahamas to find SBF.
The Context
Sam Bankman-Fried’s travels have been the subject of endless discussion since ChangPeng Zhao first tweeted about FTX and Alameda’s financial situation. Those tweets were the first domino in a series of events that has resulted in the beloved Bitboy flying to the capitalist Caribbean paradise of the Bahamas.
With only a few months since the crash of Terra and the disappearance of its founder Do Kwon, regulators and investors are wary of losing track of SBF. Because not only did FTX play dangerously with the assets of its customers, but Sam Bankman-Fried specifically used customer assets illegally to build a real estate kingdom in the Bahamas. Many people view SBF, like Do Kwon, as little more than outright thieves — not just incompetent CEOs.
Bumbling in the Bahamas
Through subsidiary company FTX Property Holdings, SBF and his associates purchased more than fifteen of the most luxurious real estate properties in the Bahamas, making him a significant player in the local economy. As SBF continues to live in freedom, many people are outraged and want him thrown in an oubliette. Bahamian Attorney General L. Ryan Pinder has faced much criticism for his light touch and has had to defend his position.
Enter Bitboy
Questions about consequences SBF may face, and compensation customers may receive have been woefully unanswered.
Therefore, defender of the crypto community and small investors, Ben Armstrong, aka BitBoy, decided on November 26 to go to the Bahamas himself. The leader of arguably the largest crypto community with over 1.4 million subscribers on YouTube went in search of Sam Bankman-Fried for answers.
At first, Twitter users denigrated Ben Armstrong when he called SBF the “devil” and advised his community to close their accounts on FTX. But following the collapse, he has been vindicated and heralded as a champion of the small investor. He claims his goal isn’t to do justice himself but rather to try and get straight answers about what happened by going straight to the source. Something major media outlets have generally failed to do.
The Timeline
On November 27, Ben posted a video of the Albany hotel where SBF is staying on Twitter as proof that he was pursuing SBF. That same day he sent an SMS inviting SBF to come and chat.
No luck.
Sam Bankman-Fried remained invisible and blocked Ben on Twitter and his phone. That evening news broke: SBF would have to leave the Albany hotel within 48 hours.
BitBoy made dozens of posts that day, sharing every detail of his stay with the community and explaining his reasons for the trip. He claimed no resentment, as he didn’t lose any money during the collapse of FTX and SOL. For him, it’s all about understanding one of the greatest cataclysms to have rocked crypto in years.
November 28 was a turning point in the BitBoy vs. SBF case. In two Twitter Spaces with his community, Ben claimed Bahamian authorities are beginning to reconsider their stance on SBF after seeing all the posts accusing them of protecting an outlaw. Ben later obtained an appointment with Deltec bank, which managed the accounts of Alameda and Tether.
That night a big twist came in the investigation. SBF contacted BitBoy, and after a long discussion, they agrees on an interview. It’s beginning to seem that Bitboy’s bombastic tactics will prevail. We will have to wait and see what is revealed during their Twitter Spaces interview set to be broadcast in the next 15 days.
At the very least, BitBoy has proven himself to be an energetic and tenacious investigator, we are eager to see what he may turn up.
Patrice Vibert wrote this article, follow him at @TendancesCrypto!
