Sam Bankman-Fried allegedly used VPN to watch Super Bowl

Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of the failed crypto exchange FTX, allegedly utilizes a VPN to access the internet, potentially creating controversies in his bail terms.

In a letter dated Feb. 13, US attorney Danielle Sassoon informed Judge Lewis Kaplan that the government found out about the alleged defendant’s use of a virtual private network (VPN) on two occasions in recent weeks. Upon discovering this information, the government promptly notified the defendant’s defense counsel expressing concerns about the defendant’s VPN usage.

Sassoon’s letter acknowledges both the lawful and potentially nefarious applications of VPNs. VPNs allow users to access their location, rendering them impervious to the government monitoring their online movements and information transactions.

Although they have legitimate uses, VPNs can facilitate illicit access to foreign crypto sites inaccessible to US users and covert exploration of the dark web.

Bankman-Fried’s lawyer Mark Cohen responded that his client used a VPN to watch the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl through an international subscription. Cohen also mentions that Bankman-Fried will be willing to comply with “reasonable” bail conditions regarding VPNs and confirmed that his client would not be using a VPN.

FTX CEO was restricted from using messaging services

In further development, Sam Bankman-Fried has been placed under a court order prohibiting him from using messaging services like Signal to contact FTX employees. This follows his indictment in December 2021 on multiple counts of fraud relating to the collapse of the crypto exchange. 

Bankman-Fried has maintained his innocence and has been released on bail pending trial. FTX is a significant player in the cryptocurrency industry and offers trading in various digital assets, including bitcoin (BTC) and ethereum (ETH).