A Glimpse into Sam Bankman-Fried’s Mental Health Struggles
Tweets that were never published by FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried have provided insights into his mental health challenges and the medication he takes. These tweets, obtained by CoinDesk, reveal that Bankman-Fried has been dealing with mild depression and anhedonia, the inability to experience pleasure, since at least December. Bankman-Fried clarified that while he doesn’t have major depressive disorder, he does test positive for dysthymia and anhedonia. He first became aware of his mental health issues during high school.
Bankman-Fried admitted to taking an antidepressant called EmSam for the past ten years to manage his mental well-being. He was a strong advocate for EmSam and even hired a psychiatrist as a company coach who allegedly freely prescribed medications to FTX employees, according to Department of Justice attorneys. While in custody, Bankman-Fried’s attorney raised concerns about his access to prescription drugs.
In his unpublished tweets, Bankman-Fried expressed a detachment from material possessions and a belief that they wouldn’t bring him happiness. He also expressed remorse for past events and committed to providing value to FTX customers.
DOJ’s Attempt to Block Mental Disease Defense
The Department of Justice has made efforts to prevent Bankman-Fried’s attorneys from presenting a mental disease defense by arguing that they were not given proper notice before the deadline. The agency claimed that questions related to effective altruism and Bankman-Fried’s ADHD and related medication were irrelevant and prejudicial. They emphasized that no notice of a mental disease or condition defense had been provided within the court’s imposed deadline.
Both Bankman-Fried and the DOJ have submitted voir dire questions in order to identify potential jurors familiar with the case, cryptocurrency, or effective altruism. One of the suggested questions was whether individuals feel that only the owners of a failed company in the cryptocurrency or financial industry should be blamed.
Hot Take: Sam Bankman-Fried’s Mental Health Struggles and Legal Battle
The leaked unpublished tweets from FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried provide a glimpse into his mental health struggles, including mild depression and anhedonia. Bankman-Fried has been taking an antidepressant called EmSam for the past decade to manage his mental well-being. These revelations come amidst his ongoing legal battle, where the Department of Justice is attempting to prevent him from presenting a mental disease defense. The DOJ argues that no notice of a mental disease defense was provided within the court’s deadline. This case highlights the intersection between personal well-being and professional responsibilities for individuals in high-profile positions within the crypto industry.
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