• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Some Fortune Crypto pricing data is provided by Binance.
RegulatorsSam Bankman-Fried

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested, and the memes can barely keep up

Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 13, 2022, 2:15 PM ET
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested on Monday.
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested on Monday.Jeenah Moon—Bloomberg/Getty Images

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested on Monday, and Crypto Twitter can’t get enough.

The 30-year-old was picked up by the Royal Bahamas Police Force after the local government received a formal notice from the U.S. that it had filed charges against him and likely would seek his extradition.

News of the arrest comes about a month after SBF’s crypto exchange declared bankruptcy and he resigned as CEO. For some Twitter users, the arrest couldn’t have come soon enough.

Many celebrated the arrest of SBF, who’s been accused of using customer funds deposited at FTX to fund risky bets at his trading company, Alameda Research.

crypto twitter after hearing SBF got arrestedpic.twitter.com/OSOIiks2r5

— LilMoonLambo (@LilMoonLambo) December 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/rahuldoteth/status/1602452045516402688

Rumors had been circulating online since FTX’s implosion last month that somehow SBF would be protected from prosecution because of his numerous political donations to politicians, although that was not the case.

Still, some users lamented that Bankman-Fried had managed to tarnish the entire reputation of crypto while also risking billions of dollars in customer funds.

Crypto Twitter seeing the news that SBF was arrested pic.twitter.com/F9wYtcEN5Y

— Wizzy (@wizzyknows) December 13, 2022

heading to outer space? pic.twitter.com/1DXXuVMkY8

— Plato (@PlatoNFT) December 11, 2022

Some on Crypto Twitter speculated that SBF may have even been arrested during a gaming session—after he reportedly played video games during a pitch meeting with Sequoia Capital. 

SBF’s League of Legends teammates hearing him get arrested mid-game pic.twitter.com/QWrL4Mch2Y

— alexjm (@alexjmingolla) December 13, 2022

pic.twitter.com/z3QIU6XLY6

— psychlone.eth (@psychloneNFT) December 13, 2022

After the implosion of FTX, the collapse of Three Arrows Capital, and much of the bad news surrounding crypto this year, some online are speculating that the market finally may be nearing the bottom with SBF’s apprehension. Some are even sarcastically rooting for the dead crypto token Luna Classic to make a comeback after its value plummeted during the TerraUSD debacle earlier this year.

Now that SBF has been arrested can we start the $LUNC & $LUNA pump? 🚀🔥🤷‍♀️

— WSB Trader Rocko 🚀🚀🚀 (@traderrocko) December 13, 2022
https://twitter.com/DeFi_Nabeel/status/1602541022843908096

Our new weekly Impact Report newsletter examines how ESG news and trends are shaping the roles and responsibilities of today's executives. Subscribe here.

About the Author
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezReporter
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Role: Reporter
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez is a reporter for Fortune covering general business news.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Regulators

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

Latest in Regulators

Changpeng Zhao looks of camera in front of blank wall.
RegulatorsBinance
Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao 2 years after the crypto billionaire’s guilty plea
By Ben WeissOctober 23, 2025
2 months ago
RegulatorsDonald Trump
Exclusive: Senate Democrats demand top Trump advisor Steve Witkoff provide details on crypto investments, lack of divestment
By Ben WeissOctober 22, 2025
2 months ago
RegulatorsBitcoin
‘Bitcoin Jesus’ reaches $50 million deal with DOJ to dismiss tax evasion charges
By Ben WeissOctober 14, 2025
2 months ago
The CoinsBitcoin
Bitcoin zooms over $123,000 as crypto fans hail an ‘Uptober’ for the ages
By Leo SchwartzOctober 3, 2025
3 months ago
RegulatorsNew York
Top crypto regulator Adrienne Harris steps down from the New York Department of Financial Services
By Leo SchwartzSeptember 29, 2025
3 months ago
A man in a suit whispering to another man in a suit.
RegulatorsSecurities and Exchange Commission
Crypto hoarding brings a stock pop for small firms—and in some cases shows patterns of possible insider trading
By Ben WeissAugust 28, 2025
4 months ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Personal Finance
Trump turns government into giant debt collector with threat to garnish wages on millions of Americans in default on student loans
By Annie Ma and The Associated PressDecember 24, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Retail
Trump just declared Christmas Eve a national holiday. Here’s what’s open and closed
By Dave SmithDecember 24, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Chinese billionaire who has fathered more than 100 children hopes to have dozens of U.S.-born boys to one day take over his business
By Emma BurleighDecember 25, 2025
5 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Real Estate
Mark Zuckerberg gifted noise-canceling headphones to his Palo Alto neighbors because of the nonstop construction around his 11 homes
By Dave SmithDecember 25, 2025
4 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
Obama's former top economic advisor says he feels 'a tiny bit bad' for Trump because gas prices are low, but consumer confidence is still plummeting 
By Sasha RogelbergDecember 24, 2025
23 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Billionaire philanthropy's growing divide: Mark Zuckerberg stops funding immigration reform as MacKenzie Scott doubles down on DEI
By Ashley LutzDecember 22, 2025
3 days ago

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.