Stanford connections co-signed SBF bond

The identities of Sam-Bankman-Fried’s bond co-signers have been revealed to be prominent figures at Stanford University.

Identity of SBF bond co-signers made public 

Stanford University’s Andreas Paepcke and Larry Kramer have been revealed as the co-signers of Sam Bankman-Fried’s bond, according to a recent ruling by the Southern District of New York.

Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the founder of the now defunct FTX exchange, was arrested in December 2022 and subsequently released on a $250 million bond, co-signed by his parents and two other previously undisclosed parties. 

SBF’s defense requested on Jan. 3 that the identities of the two other individuals serving as sureties be kept confidential. His lawyers argued that revealing the names of the two remaining sureties could lead to media scrutiny and harassment, despite their lack of substantial connection to the case. 

Several news and media outlets filed petitions with the U.S. District jury to make the identities of the two individuals public. On Jan. 30, the U.S. District judge overseeing Bankman-Fried’s legal proceedings, Lewis Kaplan, approved these petitions.

Although the ruling was pending an appeal until Feb. 7, SBF’s attorneys failed to file the appeal. 

The names, now made public, are those of former Dean of Stanford Law School Larry Kramer & Stanford Research Scientist Andreas Paepcke, both of which put up hundreds of thousands of dollars to secure the release of SBF.

The disclosure of the signatories further highlights the close nature of the relationship between FTX Trading and Stanford University, the latter of which was the recipient of millions of dollars donated by SBF’s company.