Crypto Kingpins

USG Audio
Crypto Kingpins

Once upon a time, there were two titans of the crypto industry: Sam Bankman-Fried, the child of Stanford professors and founder of FTX, and Changpeng Zhao, the nomadic founder of Binance. The pair were the faces of crypto, generating billion-dollar fortunes comparable to the likes of Elon Musk and Bill Gates. That is, until their rivalry threatened to burn the entire industry to the ground. For years, the pair had waged a cold war as Sam fought to unseat Zhao, or CZ, and dominate the industry. Then, last year, CZ fired a warning shot: one that would send FTX into a downward spiral, and reveal what prosecutors describe as a staggering $8bn fraud at the heart of Sam’s empire. Now, as Sam potentially faces decades in prison, journalist Tom Wright has been investigating the hidden origins of his feud with CZ – starting with a key witness: CZ himself.

Episodes

  1. EPISODE 1

    Episode 1: Silicon Valley Nerds

    A story about what happens — and who gets hurt — when you see everything as a game.

    33 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Episode 2: Money and a Hat

    Welcome to crypto: like Wall Street on steroids.

    37 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    Episode 3: The Wild East

    Hong Kong, the perfect launch pad to make it big in crypto.

    27 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Episode 4: Coming to America

    Big influence comes with a cost. So where exactly is Sam getting all this cash?

    31 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    Episode 5: The Island Cowboy

    In the Bahamas, the life of FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried is about to take a surreal turn.

    33 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    Episode 6: Kill Shot

    “You're just a dumb lawyer. If you were smart, you'd be a Bitcoin billionaire.”

    38 min

  7. 14/09/2023

    Introducing: Crypto Kingpins

    Premieres September 19.

    2 min

  8. BONUS

    Bonus #1: Courtroom Bombshells - An Update from Sam Bankman-Fried’s Trial

    “He is somebody who likes double or nothing coin flips – and this is basically his last coin flip.” Since kicking off on October 3, the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried has generated headlines around the world. It’s produced hours of witness testimony and endless reams of evidence – but what do you really need to know? In this bonus episode, managing producer Megan Dean talks to reporter Tracy Wang about the biggest bombshells to hit the courtroom during the prosecution, including the “jaw-dropping” testimony of former Alameda Research CEO, Caroline Ellison. Plus, with Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyers likely to launch his defense in the coming days, we hear from federal criminal defense attorney Ken White on their potential strategy – and what could happen if Sam takes the witness stand. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    22 min

  9. BONUS

    Bonus #2: CZ Pleads Guilty - The End of the Road for the Crypto Kingpins?

    As another kingpin falls, what’s next for crypto?   At the start of November, Sam Bankman-Fried was convicted. After weeks of complex testimony, the jury took just four hours to find him guilty of defrauding customers and investors out of billions of dollars. Things looked like they couldn’t get anymore dramatic–- until they did. Just a few weeks later, with Sam awaiting sentencing, a second kingpin was also toppled. In a sweeping settlement with the Department of Justice, Changpeng Zhao, or CZ, pled guilty to failing to prevent money laundering and stepped down as CEO of Binance. In this episode, host Tom Wright delves into the downfall of two of the biggest names in crypto. With help from crypto investigator James Block, entrepreneur Margaux Avedisian, and Wall Street Journal reporter Angus Berwick, Tom unravels the details of CZ’s plea deal with regulators and the fate of Binance, and asks: what’s next for crypto? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    18 min
  10. You Might Also Like: The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi

    BONUS

    You Might Also Like: The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi

    In 1978, Pope John Paul I was found dead in his bed just 33 days after he was elected. The official story is that he suffered a fatal heart attack. But in the years since his death, some have claimed he was murdered to cover up crimes in the Vatican. The question of the Pope’s death has never been definitively answered, but there is one man who claims to know the truth. A man from one of New York City’s crime families who has deep ties to the Italian mafia. He was there the day of the Pope’s death and witnessed his murder firsthand. Or, at least, that’s what he says. His name is Anthony Raimondi, and these are his confessions. From USG Audio and Truth Media in association with Clockwork Films. For more episodes of The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi, visit here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    33 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Once upon a time, there were two titans of the crypto industry: Sam Bankman-Fried, the child of Stanford professors and founder of FTX, and Changpeng Zhao, the nomadic founder of Binance. The pair were the faces of crypto, generating billion-dollar fortunes comparable to the likes of Elon Musk and Bill Gates. That is, until their rivalry threatened to burn the entire industry to the ground. For years, the pair had waged a cold war as Sam fought to unseat Zhao, or CZ, and dominate the industry. Then, last year, CZ fired a warning shot: one that would send FTX into a downward spiral, and reveal what prosecutors describe as a staggering $8bn fraud at the heart of Sam’s empire. Now, as Sam potentially faces decades in prison, journalist Tom Wright has been investigating the hidden origins of his feud with CZ – starting with a key witness: CZ himself.

Information

  • Channel
    USG Audio
  • Creator
    USG Audio
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © USG Audio
  • Show Website
    Crypto Kingpins

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