 "Ryan Salame, former co-founder of FTX Digital Markets")
Ryan Salame, former co-founder of FTX Digital Markets | Photo: Ryan Salamé LinkedIn
Former FTX Digital Markets co-founder Ryan Salame made headlines this week when he posted an employment update on his LinkedIn profile before reporting to prison to serve a seven-year sentence and half. Salame, 31, was convicted for his role in Sam Bankman-Fried’s multibillion-dollar cryptocurrency fraud and his involvement in illegal political campaign donations. He is one of four FTX executives who pleaded guilty after the company collapsed in 2022.
On Wednesday, two days before he was due to report to the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland, Salame shared an unconventional update on his life on LinkedIn: “I am happy to announce that I am starting a new position as an inmate at FCI Cumberland.
In typical LinkedIn fashion, many users commented on Salame’s post, praising him for his “stance.”
“Ryan well deserved,” one user wrote, while another joked, “Bro moved from LinkedIn to LockedIn.”
Another user said: “I guess your next interviewer won’t need to ask you to explain the gaps in your resume. »
Federal Prison Consultancy, a private American company, commented: “Ryan Salame, you will be back soon; use this time to do things you never took the time for.”
Salame has been active on social media since his conviction on May 28, sometimes sharing multiple updates daily.
Following the response on LinkedIn, Salame posted on his X account saying, “Today I learned that people still use LinkedIn.”
He also updated his X profile to read: “7.5 year prison sentence. Former: Free man. American Republican mega-donor…”
Today I learned that people still use LinkedIn
– Ryan Salamé (@rsalame7926) October 11, 2024
Ryan Salame, FTX scandal and conviction
Ryan Salame, an executive at cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has been embroiled in a scandal involving illegal political donations. As co-chief executive officer of FTX’s Bahamian subsidiary, he pleaded guilty to charges of making tens of millions of dollars in illegal political contributions. These contributions were made using FTX customer funds without proper authorization, intended for political campaigns aligned with its interests and those of FTX. His actions were part of broader allegations of fraud and mismanagement that ultimately contributed to FTX’s collapse. Salame was convicted as part of the legal proceedings surrounding the FTX case, which also involved founder Sam Bankman-Fried and other executives.
Salame’s plea deal came under scrutiny after he claimed, in an interview with Bloombergthat prosecutors had broken their promise to drop their investigation into his wife, crypto lobbyist Michelle Bond, in exchange for his guilty plea. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan has rejected the allegations, calling its backtracking “brazen.” Salame, who donated $22.6 million to Republicans while at FTX, is now hoping for a presidential pardon. He acknowledged, however, that it could be difficult to obtain a pardon if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the election.
First publication: October 11, 2024 | 9:52 a.m. STI
