Bankman-Fried Could Have Been Greatest VC If Not For Crime That Supplied All His Investment Capital

NEW YORK — In an effort to salvage his reputation, Sam Bankman-Fried is arguing that he would be ranked among history’s greatest venture capitalists if you simply overlook his misappropriation of the investment capital.

Some journalists are all ears.

“The fraud was a technicality,” said Effective Altruism Insider editor Thanh Chavez. “Without it, you’re looking at generational talent.”

Chavez credited Bankman-Fried with identifying promising startups, moving decisively, and possessing the conviction necessary to invest money belonging to other people who had not specifically asked him to do that.

Chavez's analysis included Bankman-Fried's possession of the customers’ money as evidence of his fundraising prowess.

“I mean, anyone can lose their own money...” Chavez said. “Sam had the insight to ignore that limitation.”

At press time, Bankman-Fried emphasized that although FTX customer participation in his VC efforts had been involuntary, because they had expected the money deposited in their accounts to remain there, they should take pride in having been able to participate in the first place.