Anthony Scaramucci, founder of Skybridge Capital, shared his feelings of betrayal by Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX, at a blockchain event in Davos, Switzerland.
Scaramucci stated that the betrayal and fraud was bad on many levels, not just for his reputation, but also on a personal level. He compared Bankman-Fried to Bernie Madoff, the operator of the largest Ponzi scheme in history, and stated that the ninth circle of Hell is reserved for betrayers of friends.
Scaramucci revealed that he had once considered Bankman-Fried a friend and had a good relationship with him and his family. Unfortunately, he “got it wrong” and trusted Bankman-Fried, who he thought was the Mark Zuckerberg of the crypto industry, but in reality was the Bernie Madoff of crypto.
In response to the betrayal, Scaramucci’s firm, SkyBridge, plans to buy back its 30% stake in FTX, which was sold in September 2022, just two weeks before the company went bankrupt. The buyback process will begin once all legal proceedings are settled, and is expected to take place before the second half of this year.
Scaramucci also emphasized the importance of supporting friends, such as former FTX US President Brett Harrison, who was also affected by the turmoil at FTX. Harrison revealed that he noticed a change in Bankman-Fried’s behavior after working with him for six months at a New York-based trading firm.
Both Scaramucci and Harrison made the mistake of trusting Bankman-Fried, and their experiences serve as a cautionary tale for others in the crypto industry. It is important to thoroughly research and vet potential business partners before making any investments or partnerships.
Additionally, SkyBridge Capital is a well-known hedge fund management company, that is considered as a reputable establishment in the industry. SkyBridge’s founder, Anthony Scaramucci, is a well-known figure in the financial and business sector, his statement carries weight and his words will be taken seriously.
Furthermore, Scaramucci’s comparison of Sam Bankman-Fried to Bernie Madoff, highlights the severity of the betrayal and the magnitude of the fraud. It shows that the founder of SkyBridge Capital, Anthony Scaramucci, is not only hurt by the betrayal on a personal level but also on a professional level.
In conclusion, the story of Anthony Scaramucci and SkyBridge Capital’s experience with Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX serves as a reminder of the importance of due diligence and the potential consequences of blindly trusting business partners. The crypto industry is still in its early stages and caution should be exercised when making investments and partnerships.