Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder of bankrupt crypto exchange FTX , may be serving a 25-year prison sentence but his X (formerly Twitter) account is still very much alive.
On Sept. 23, his handle @SBF_FTX posted a "gm" ("good morning"), instantly igniting reaction across the crypto community.
Reactions to the "gm" were swift and cutting. Industry figures like Peter McCormack posted simply: "What." Wendy O, a well-known crypto influencer, added: "Maybe the rapture is real?" Others were far less forgiving — "GO BACK TO YOUR CELL," wrote @CryptoVonDoom.
Some saw the post as a clumsy PR stunt. Analyst Conor Grogan added: "Here comes the PR campaign to get Sam pardoned!"
Others, like Dan Held, just rolled their eyes, "Oh Jesus Christ."
Who's running the account?
This isn't the first time SBF's account has come to life from prison.
Earlier this year, he engaged in a few cryptic threads about management and responsibility, but his activity has been sporadic. His bio includes a monitored mailing address at FCI Terminal Island in California and notes that the account is "shared by a friend."
FTX Bankruptcy creditors set for $1.6B payout as Sam Bankman-Fried serves prison term
FTX's long and messy Chapter 11 bankruptcy process is moving into its next phase. Creditors of the collapsed exchange are set to receive another $1.6 billion in repayments starting Sept. 30, according to the FTX Recovery Trust.
The funds will be routed through BitGo, Kraken, and Payoneer, with deposits expected to hit verified accounts within three business days. This marks the third major round of distributions since the exchange's implosion in November 2022.
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U.S. customers will receive 40% in this round, bringing their total recovery to 95%.
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International "dotcom" customers will see a 6% bump, pushing cumulative payouts to 78%.
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Unsecured and loan claims get 24%, raising recoveries to 85%.
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Convenience claims will actually be paid at 120%, above their face value.
In total, FTX's bankruptcy estate has now returned more than $6 billion to creditors. The September distribution is being hailed as another step toward making victims whole, though billions remain tied up in ongoing asset recovery.
Related: How to claim your FTX Chapter 11 bankruptcy payout in the U.S., India, China, and Europe
Why is Sam Bankman-Fried in jail?
The payouts come as FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, once one of crypto's most powerful figures, serves a 25-year prison sentence. In 2022, prosecutors charged him with fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, alleging he misused billions in customer deposits to fund risky bets at Alameda Research, political donations, and a lavish lifestyle.
Once dubbed the "King of Crypto," SBF's fall from grace was swift. In 2023, he was convicted on multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy. The judge, citing the scale of deception and harm caused to millions of customers, handed down one of the harshest sentences in crypto history.
Related: FTX Bankruptcy A 'Shock', Says Ousted CEO Sam Bankman-Fried
This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Sep 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the MARKETS section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
