Ryan Salame and Michelle Bond, a power couple deeply involved in Washington's political and crypto circles, saw their lives unravel after the collapse of FTX in November 2022. The collapse revealed billions of missing customer funds and a web of political donations, illegal financial transactions, and campaign finance violations. Salame, former CEO of FTX Digital Markets, funneled money through FTX for political contributions, leading to his guilty plea for campaign finance violations. Bond, a former SEC lawyer and CEO of the Association for Digital Asset Markets, received funds from FTX via Salame for her failed congressional campaign. She was later indicted on campaign finance violations. Both face legal repercussions, with Salame sentenced to 7.5 years in prison and Bond potentially facing jail time. The couple's personal lives have also been impacted, with their $4 million home set to be sold. While Salame hopes for a presidential pardon, Bond has announced the creation of a think tank called Digital Future to shape regulatory policies for digital assets, despite skepticism due to her ongoing legal challenges. This scandal serves as a reminder of how ambition, greed, and involvement in the crypto world can lead to downfall.



Other News from Today