As an analyst with a background in financial crime and insolvency law, I find this case intriguing due to its complex interplay of personal finance, real estate transactions, and regulatory violations.


Ryan Salame, the ex-co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets, has reached a plea deal that includes him surrendering his million-dollar mansion in The Bahamas as part of the settlement.

Following Salame’s admission of guilt to criminal offenses in September 2023, a court-mandated arrangement saw him obliged to compensate the affected parties with a total of $5.6 million.

The Property Transfer

As a crypto investor following the developments of the ongoing case between FTX Trading Ltd and its affiliated debtors in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, I understand that according to a recent filing on May 1, I, Salame, will relinquish control over a luxurious $5.9 million property I own in the Bahamas.

Instead of settling the debt with a cash payment, Salame proposes a solution where he transfers the ownership of the property to FTX Digital Markets Ltd in satisfaction of the outstanding amount.

The filing indicated that Salame would fulfill the Restitution Amount obligation by transferring his Bahamian property, specifically Unit No. 3A in Marina Residences at Albany Building 10 Condominium (referred to as the “Residence”), over to FTX DM.

If Salame is bound by an agreement, he must complete all required procedures to convey the property’s ownership legally to FTX DM. Upon successful transfer of ownership, the restitution amount owed will be considered fully paid.

As a crypto investor, I understand the perspective of the debtors in this situation. Instead of rushing to sell their Bahamian property at a discounted price, they believe that holding on to it will benefit them in the long run. This strategy allows them to preserve the potential value of other Bahamian properties they own and explore various monetization options.

The $306,822.09 discrepancy between the appraised value and the restitution amount will be applied as a reduction to Salame’s debt obligation towards the debtors according to the terms of the promissory note.

Salame’s Transactions

According to the court documents, it came to light that Salame had entered into a contract to buy a property worth $7.2 million in September 2021. The first installment of 10% was transferred from an Alameda Research account held at Silvergate Bank.

In November of the same year, approximately $8.1 million was moved from FTX Digital Markets’ account at Fidelity Bank in the Bahamas to Salame’s real estate lawyer’s account. This transfer represented the final installment for the cost of the property.

In March 2022, I entered into a commitment with FTX and Alameda, agreeing to repay them $8.1 million. However, by November 2022, both FTX and Alameda encountered significant difficulties that eventually led to their downfall and bankruptcy filings shortly thereafter.

As a crypto investor, I’ve come across news that Salame is under investigation for some serious allegations. According to reports, he’s been accused of conspiring to illegally contribute to political campaigns and defraud the Federal Election Commission. Additionally, there are claims that he was part of an unlicensed money-transmitting business operation.

The court has set a sentencing date for him on May 28, 2024. In contrast, Sam Bankman-Fried, the ex-CEO of FTX, was given a 25-year prison term in late March.

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2024-05-04 01:16