Invest ideasNews
20 Feb 2026, 21:40
SBF posts his latest attempt to bust "10 Myths" about the allegations he’s serving time for
In his latest attempt to defend his reputation to the outside world from behind bars, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the former CEO of FTX Trading Ltd, came out today, February 20, to challenge the narratives that led to his conviction on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy. The former FTX CEO, currently serving a 25-year sentence at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, posted a “10 Myths About Me & FTX” thread claiming FTX was never insolvent, customers are being “made whole” with above 100% repayments, and that his November 2023 trial was basically unfair. He even spared time to address the rumors of a sexual nature leveled against him, which have drawn comparisons with the overt nature of the sexual experiences linked with the convicted fixer, Jeffrey Epstein. The truth, according to Bankman-Fried, was: “There were no polycules or orgies.” 2) Myth: There were polycule orgies Truth: There were no polycules or orgies I never partied or took vacation. FTX owned the penthouse; I spent $50k renting 10% of it for 6 months. My personal consumption and donations were less than—and came from—earnings. pic.twitter.com/jAmRJdTu2d — SBF (@SBF_FTX) February 20, 2026 The 119% repayment claim is heavily disputed The main statistic Sam Bankman-Fried (informally known as SBF) used to back his claims was that FTX customers are receiving between 119-143% of their original holdings. However, skeptics have problems with that figure because it seems to be calculated from the day FTX filed for bankruptcy. Using that valuation, a customer holding one Bitcoin on FTX would get around $17,000 in the bankruptcy distribution (119% of the November 2022 valuation). On the other hand, if that person held the same Bitcoin on another exchange, that Bitcoin would now be worth $100,000, meaning a deficit of $80,000 or more. Bankruptcy law requires November 2022 valuation date Under US bankruptcy law, claims are to be valued as of the petition filing date. This means in FTX’s case, the date would remain November 11, 2022, when crypto prices had crashed due to the exchange’s collapse. According to the testimony of John Ray III, the leader of FTX’s restructuring team (and previously oversaw Enron’s liquidation), FTX had recovered between $14.7 billion and $16.5 billion in assets. The recovery also includes a 13.56% equity stake in AI company Anthropic as well as the liquidation of real estate holdings. From the approved repayment plan, 98% of customers (that is, those with claims under $50,000) would receive distributions within 60 days once the plan became effective in September 2025. As such, bigger creditors would receive their distributions at a different time. Cooperating witnesses received reduced sentences afte r gu ilty pleas Sam Bankman-Fried’s tweets also claime d Ju dge Lewis Kapla n ga gged him, threw him in jail before trial, and banned evidence of solvency from the case. According to court records, Bankman-Fried was convicted in November 2023 after a federal jury found him guilty on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy. He would later be sentenced to 25 years in prison in March 2024. There were also rumors of polyamory and sex parties flying around at the time of the scandal. The allegations shared a similar style to those leveled against financial mogul Jeffrey Epstein, who, according to recent files released by the DOJ, helped to fund projects like Bitcoin, Coinbase, and Blockstream , going as far back as 2014. However, Bankman-Fried’s X thread has effectively shut down those rumors of sexual impropriety. Prosecutors brought up the testimony of his ex-girlfriend and former CEO of Alameda Research, Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang (co-founder of FTX), and Nishad Singh, the former FTX engineering director, durin g the tr ial. The cooperating witnesses got reduced punishments, with Caroline getting a two-year sentence, Wang also sentenced to time served with supervised release, and Singh spending no time in prison. Bankman-Fried also claimed that the cour t su ppressed evidence of solvency and that lawyers “took over” the company to generate their fees. He also claimed that he had secured funding offers that would have covered the liquidity gap and allowed withdrawals to continue. The court records, however, revealed that after John Ray III took over from Bankman-Fried as the CEO, his team discovered that FTX’s financial records were incomplete and inaccurate, alongsid e sy stemic failure of internal controls. President Trump has ruled out the possibility of a presidential pardon for the convicted executive who was a known Democratic donor. The FTT token has also seen sharp spikes and falls since SBF’s almost daily streak of publicly steering the narrative around his trial and conviction. Sharpen your strategy with mentorship + daily ideas - 30 days free access to our trading program
20 Feb 2026, 21:23
Bitcoin Bleeds 29% But Sellers Are Exhausted, VanEck Says
Bitcoin’s 29% price collapse over the last 30 days has successfully reset market leverage and exhausted "mid-cycle" sellers.
20 Feb 2026, 21:20
Bitcoin shrugs off Trump's new tariffs, nears $68,000 as altcoins lead modest bounce
Crypto prices edged higher on Friday despite a splash of tariff turbulence after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Trump's levies illegal.
20 Feb 2026, 21:16
Avalanche Climbs 3% as Altcoin Season Score Stays at 33 — Selective Rotation Begins?
Avalanche has experienced a notable rise of 3%, coinciding with the Altcoin Season Score remaining steady at 33. This has led to speculation about the beginning of a selective rotation in the market. The focus now shifts to identifying which coins are showing potential for growth in this shifting landscape. Avalanche (AVAX) Eyes Potential Rebound Amid Volatility Source: tradingview Avalanche (AVAX) is currently trading between about $8.56 and $9.87. This marks a slight upward shift of around 2.2% over the past week. However, the past month's downturn, with a drop of almost 25%, suggests volatility. The coin faces its nearest resistance at $10, with further resistance at $11, hinting at a possible 25% climb from current levels. Support lies around $7.84, offering a cushion, but a dip below could push it toward $6.53. With an RSI below 60, there’s room for upward momentum. The recent price movements indicate potential growth, though reaching previous highs will require breaking current barriers. Keep watch on resistance levels to gauge future performance. Conclusion AVAX's recent 3% rise indicates positive interest and activity. The Altcoin Season score of 33 suggests a mixed market where selective investment strategies may be forming. Key coins such as AVAX are seeing growth, though not uniformly across all altcoins. This period may present opportunities for investors to focus on specific assets showing upward momentum. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
20 Feb 2026, 21:15
Bitcoin And Ethereum Post Worst Start To A Year On Record: Fortune
The industry’s largest cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), are enduring one of their most difficult openings to a year on record, according to a recent analysis by Fortune, with both digital assets trading sharply below their previous peaks. Bitcoin is currently down roughly 46% from its all-time high, while Ethereum has fallen about 60% from its record level. The steep declines mark what the publication describes as historically poor year-to-date performances for the assets. Bitcoin, Ethereum Lag While S&P 500, Gold Post Gains While Bitcoin and Ethereum, along with broader crypto prices, have often moved in tandem with equities in recent years, that relationship has weakened over the past two months. Since January, major US stock indices have edged higher. The S&P 500 has gained approximately 0.4%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average has climbed 2.3%. Precious metals have also performed strongly. Gold has surged about 17% since the start of the year, while silver has advanced roughly 14%, even after experiencing a brief drop several weeks ago. Related Reading: ‘Sell Bitcoin Now,’ Peter Schiff Warns, Predicts $20,000 Target On Breakdown The disconnect between cryptocurrencies and broader market gains has prompted some industry observers to declare the arrival of another “Crypto Winter.” “We’re certainly in a Crypto Winter,” said Danny Nelson, a research analyst at crypto asset manager Bitwise. He pointed to investor behavior as evidence of deteriorating sentiment. “You can tell by how investors react to good news,” Nelson said. “They don’t.” ‘We’re Really Close To The End’ Despite the current pullback and the increased challenges for prices seen since the October 10 liquidation event, Nelson argues that the underlying foundation of the industry is strengthening. “Crypto’s reality is getting stronger,” he said, adding that the structural changes underway are likely to outlast the current downturn. Related Reading: House Democrats Urge Treasury Probe Into Trump Family’s Crypto Venture Similar sentiments have been expressed by Tom Lee, cofounder of research firm Fundstrat and a long-time supporter of Ethereum. In a recent interview, Lee suggested the market may be nearing a turning point, stating, “We’re really close to the end.” Whether the latest slump proves to be a temporary correction or a deeper cycle shift remains uncertain. For now, however, the data underscores a challenging start to the year for the cryptocurrency market, even as other asset classes continue to surge. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $67,595, which is a slight 1% increase compared to Thursday’s prices. Ethereum is trading at around $1,968, with similar gains over the past 24 hours. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
20 Feb 2026, 21:13
No Clear Breakout Yet, These Coins Fit a Neutral Allocation Strategy
Cryptocurrency investors are watching certain coins closely as they show potential but lack decisive upward movement. In the face of uncertain trends, some digital assets offer a balanced approach. The article reveals which tokens are poised for potential growth, making them suitable for a cautious yet optimistic investment strategy. Cosmos Gains Momentum: Will ATOM See a Breakthrough Soon? Source: tradingview Cosmos (ATOM) is showing some action between just under $2 and above $2. ATOM has seen a jump in its weekly price with close to 20% growth, landing it slightly above $2. The current price stays close to a known resistance level, around $2.43. Its ease past another barrier could push ATOM up nearly 20% more towards $2.77. However, there's strong support a bit north of $1.70. Despite a drop over the past six months, the rising trend supports the chance of steady gains. This signals potential moves upward if resistance levels are overcome. Render (RENDER) Shows Signs of Growth Amid Crypto Volatility Source: tradingview Render's current price hovers between $1.27 and $1.57. It has seen a weekly rise of over 11% but dropped more than 23% over the past month. The coin shows some promise, with a relative strength index of around 58, indicating it's not overbought or oversold. The price could face a challenge if it nears the resistance level at $1.72 but breaking through could push it toward $2.02. If Render manages this leap, it could represent a potential growth of around 25% from its current range. However, if it slides back, the nearest safety net lies at $1.10 and the next at $0.79. Solana Rises Amidst Challenges: Signs of a Bullish Rebound? Source: tradingview Solana , a popular cryptocurrency, is navigating through a volatile phase. The current price fluctuates between high seventies and low nineties, indicating some resilience. It recently strengthened, growing about 7% in a week despite losing nearly a third of its value over the past month. The crypto faces a key resistance point at just under a hundred dollars. If momentum builds, Solana could potentially climb to around a hundred and fourteen dollars, offering an upside of almost 23% from the upper price range. However, support levels near seventy may cushion any fall, hinting at a foundation for upward potential. Market watchers remain attentive to these movements. Conclusion There is no clear breakout yet, making a neutral allocation strategy practical. Coins like ATOM, RENDER, and SOL are suggested as suitable fits. These coins have shown steady performance and potential for growth. Maintaining a diversified approach with these coins can balance risk and opportunity. This strategy can help navigate the current market conditions effectively. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
