The announcement of former FTX executive Ryan Salame’s upcoming 7.5-year prison term has sent shockwaves through the crypto community. Recent updates from Salame on social media have triggered a flood of memes and humorous commentary among industry participants, all centered around his unconventional LinkedIn post.
From Corporate to Incarcerate: Salame’s LinkedIn Update
In an unexpected twist, Ryan Salame, previously the co-chief executive officer at FTX Digital Markets, utilized LinkedIn in an unusual manner to inform his professional network of his new status. In a surprising move, he cheerfully declared his latest role as an inmate at FCI Cumberland.
Salame went further, modifying his profile to include “cleaning and whittling” as new skills. This “banger post,” as noted by Alex Lieberman, quickly attracted widespread attention, with many responding with playful and witty remarks to the peculiar post.
Comments included clever quips such as “From LinkedIn to LockedIn,” and one user humorously noted his transition “from blockchains to being in chains.” Another jestingly observed that Salame seemed keen to avoid any gaps in his resume. Amidst the humor, Salame also took to the platform X to express his disappointment at losing his Wordle streak, with the start of his prison term slated for October 11. Reflecting on the viral reaction to his post, he humorously remarked on discovering that “people still use LinkedIn.”
Court Proceedings: US Judge Refuses to Delay Surrender Date
In recent court developments, documents reveal that Salame’s legal team sought yet another extension of his surrender date. The request, filed on a Wednesday, asked US Judge Lewis A. Kaplan to postpone the report date from October 11 to December 7, citing the necessity of “continuing medical treatment deemed necessary by his treating physician to recover from the injuries sustained on or about June 19, 2024.”
In June, Salame experienced a dog bite injury to his face, necessitating an initial postponement from August 29 to the upcoming Friday due to required medical treatment and surgery. However, federal prosecutors strongly opposed Salame’s last-minute request, contending that it lacked sufficient grounds for a second extension.
The prosecutors further pointed out that Salame’s prior request had been granted before he confessed to providing false testimony under oath. According to reports by Bitcoinist, Judge Kaplan expressed irritation at Salame’s “false testimony” during his 2023 guilty plea, warning of potential sanctions during a September court hearing.
Ultimately, on Thursday, the court denied Salame’s request to delay his surrender date, aligning with the prosecutors’ stance that the proposed medical treatment appeared to be largely cosmetic and non-urgent. Consequently, Judge Kaplan mandated that Salame must surrender by 2:00 pm as scheduled.
Market Reactions: FTX Token Performance
In related financial news, the FTX Token (FTT) is currently trading at $2.07, as observed on the weekly chart. This development highlights the ongoing market dynamics and investor sentiment surrounding the FTX platform amidst recent events.
