After the fall

Autism is not an excuse, but an explanation for those who will listen. 

The rise and fall of FTX has been massively documented and the odd behavior of its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, frequently mentioned in reporting during Sam's tenure as CEO of FTX and during his trial.

But never was his increasingly apparent autism identified, or even considered, as an explanation for his actions.

The people around him during FTX's ascension in the crypto world were unquestionably smart, and many of those closest to him were themselves quirky. So it is inarguable that key employees and others on the outside feeding off FTX's success recognized Sam's autism -- and exploited it.

The fall of FTX should never have happened, could have been headed off by some in positions to act, and was generated and stoked by identifable individuals who stood to profit by its destruction.

Since the 2022 collapse, more than $1 billion in fees has been distributed to lawyers, courts, trustees, and liquidation managers. [City Journal/Richard Dewey, Aaron Brown]. Yet it's entirely possible that when the dust has settled, overall losses will be... zero.

"There was nothing predatory or rapacious or venal or mercenary or exploitive about his conduct, because Sam Bankman-Fried doesn't make decisions with malice in his heart, he makes decisions with math in his head." [Sam's attorney at sentencing.]

Sam was arrested the day before he was to appear before Congress where he previously had advocated for regulation of the cryptocurrency business.

History yet to be written will prove these assertions, and also will illustrate how Sam had no criminal intent in any of his activities while running FTX.

And he was a very vulnerable target when the late-to-the-party Justice Department turned its sleepy eyes toward him.

Then, things started moving really, really fast. 

"We are not just talking about a swift arrest. This is more like the prosecutorial equivalent of breaking the sound barrier." [Ankush Khardori in New York magazine.]