Sam Bankman-Fried Trial Update: DOJ Brushes Off Anthropic Fundraising Angle

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SBF’s legal team is using all the tactics to divert the case, and one such trump card they are planning to lay is “Anthropic AI Raised Funds”? But what’s the actual relevance of the defense to bring this up? Well, it seems they want to drag the case and find desperate ways to use humanitarian grounds for the disgraced CEO. DOJ previously rejected the defendant’s unclear regulatory arguments in the FTX case, and after this is also rejected, what next in the SBF case? Let’s delve in. 

Anthropic, an artificial intelligence company with a promising future, finds itself at the center of a legal dispute involving Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX, a significant cryptocurrency exchange. The dispute came just after the market news of Anthropic receiving billions of fundraising from Google and Amazon. It gave air to the speculations of creditors of FTX for a substantial financial recovery.  

Notably, in the recent filing, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has raised objections to Bankman-Fried’s defense team bringing up Anthropic’s recent fundraising activities in his trial.

‘Anthropic Talks is Waste of Court Time’ Says DOJ

Looking at the broader space, the DOJ’s legal team is clear that any talks regarding Bankman-Fried’s investments in Anthropic are immaterial to the wire fraud charges he faces. They want to draw the court’s attention to the core issue lies in the alleged misappropriation of FTX customer deposits for investments and other expenses.

Even if some of these investments yielded profits, the DOJ argues, it would not free Bankman-Fried from the charges. Their position is rooted in the belief that the unlawful diversion of FTX funds for investments constitutes wire fraud, regardless of potential returns.

What is the Objection? 

The DOJ is against using Anthropic’s fundraising to suggest that FTX customers or victims may eventually get compensated. The court has ruled this argument as not allowed, as the charges against Bankman-Fried focus on the misuse of customer deposits, not the potential profit from his investments. 

Anthropic’s importance in this legal battle is emphasized by its significant deals in the tech industry. It has a valuable agreement with Amazon, potentially valued at up to $4 billion, and is currently in talks for an additional $2 billion in funding, as reported by Bloomberg. These numbers highlight the substantial financial aspects of the case. As the trial date nears, whether evidence related to Anthropic’s fundraising can be used remains a crucial point of disagreement between Bankman-Fried’s defense and the DOJ.

What’s Next? 

Caroline Ellison, a crucial prosecution witness, is yet to testify in the high-profile FTX trial. Her upcoming testimony could be a game-changer. Previous witnesses hinted at advantages for Alameda on FTX and mentioned market manipulation tactics. Ellison’s insights may significantly influence the case, revealing crucial details about Bankman-Fried’s role in FTX and Alameda Research.