The Focus on Sam Bankman-Fried's Use of Signal and Auto-Delete Features
During an ongoing hearing, federal prosecutors questioned Sam Bankman-Fried, former CEO of now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, about his message deletion practices and the alleged use of customer funds. One area of focus was Bankman-Fried's use of the encrypted messaging app Signal and his enabling of auto-delete features in 2021. Bankman-Fried stated that he did not seek specific legal approval for auto-deleting messages but believed it was allowed under FTX's document retention policy implemented that year. His testimony was recorded by Matthew Russell Lee from the Inner City Press.
Preservation of Messages and Alleged Policy Violations
Prosecutors questioned Bankman-Fried about his deletion of messages with former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison, which reportedly contained financial spreadsheets. Bankman-Fried acknowledged that such messages should have been preserved but stated that verbal discussions were not required to be reported. Additionally, prosecutors inquired about the deletion of messages related to the shutting down of Alameda and its reported $13 billion hole. Bankman-Fried claimed he did not recall such conversations.
FTX Customer Funds and the Use of Alameda Entity North Dimension Bank Accounts
Prosecutors also raised concerns about FTX customer funds being transferred through Alameda entity North Dimension bank accounts. Bankman-Fried signed documents listing it as a trading firm but claimed to be unaware of it actually conducting trades. When asked if he discussed the use of the account to accept customer funds with lawyers, Bankman-Fried expressed uncertainty.
Furthermore, Bankman-Fried stated that he did not discuss with lawyers that the funds were coming from FTX customer accounts. He clarified that he did not believe he should embezzle customer assets and emphasized this sentiment voluntarily during his testimony.
Bankman-Fried's Stance and the Proceedings Ahead
Bankman-Fried has maintained his innocence and entered a not guilty plea to all allegations. Despite facing multiple charges, he has stood firm in his position. The proceedings in Judge Kaplan's courtroom are set to continue, with the prosecution team preparing for an extensive line of inquiry. It is important to note that the federal prosecutors conducted their interrogation in the absence of a jury.
What are your thoughts on Sam Bankman-Fried's testimony and cross-examination by federal prosecutors? Share your opinions in the comments section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should Your IRA Include in Precious Metals?
It is important to remember that precious metals can be a good investment for anyone. You don't need to be rich to make an investment in precious metals. There are many methods to make money off of silver and gold investments.
You may consider buying physical coins such as bullion bars or rounds. It is possible to also purchase shares in companies that make precious metals. You might also want to use an IRA rollover program offered through your retirement plan provider.
You'll still get the benefit of precious metals no matter which country you live in. These metals are not stocks, but they can still provide long-term growth.
And, unlike traditional investments, their prices tend to rise over time. If you decide to sell your investment, you will likely make more than with traditional investments.
Can I buy or sell gold from my self-directed IRA
While you can purchase gold from your self-directed IRA (or any other brokerage firm), you must first open a brokerage account such as TD Ameritrade. If you already have a retirement account, funds can be transferred to it.
The IRS allows individuals up to $5.500 annually ($6,500 if you are married and filing jointly). This can be contributed to a traditional IRA. Individuals can contribute up to $1,000 annually ($2,000 if married and filing jointly) directly to a Roth IRA.
If you do decide to invest in gold, you'll want to consider purchasing physical bullion rather than investing in futures contracts. Futures contracts are financial instruments based on the price of gold. You can speculate on future prices, but not own the metal. However, physical bullion is real gold or silver bars you can hold in your hands.
How to open a Precious Metal IRA
First, you must decide if your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is what you want. Open the account by filling out Form 8606. Then you must fill out Form 5204 to determine what type of IRA you are eligible for. You must complete this form within 60 days of opening your account. Once you have completed this form, it is possible to begin investing. You can also choose to pay your salary directly by making a payroll deduction.
Complete Form 8903 if your Roth IRA option is chosen. Otherwise, the process will look identical to an existing IRA.
To be eligible to have a precious metals IRA you must meet certain criteria. The IRS states that you must be at least 18 and have earned income. You cannot earn more than $110,000 annually ($220,000 if married filing jointly) in any one tax year. Additionally, you must make regular contributions. These rules will apply regardless of whether your contributions are made through an employer or directly out of your paychecks.
You can invest in precious metals IRAs to buy gold, palladium and platinum. However, physical bullion will not be available for purchase. This means that you will not be allowed to trade shares or bonds.
Your precious metals IRA may also be used to invest in precious-metal companies. This option can be provided by some IRA companies.
An IRA is a great way to invest in precious metals. However, there are two important drawbacks. They aren't as liquid as bonds or stocks. This makes it harder to sell them when needed. Second, they don't generate dividends like stocks and bonds. Therefore, you will lose more money than you gain over time.
How Does Gold Perform as an Investment?
The supply and demand for gold affect the price of gold. Interest rates also have an impact on the price of gold.
Because of their limited supply, gold prices can fluctuate. There is also a risk in owning gold, as you must store it somewhere.
Should you open a Precious Metal IRA
It is essential to be aware of the fact that precious metals do not have insurance coverage before opening an IRA. There are no ways to recover the money you lost in an investment. This includes investments that have been damaged by fire, flooding, theft, and so on.
You can protect yourself against such losses by purchasing physical gold and silver coins. These items have been around for thousands of years and represent real value that cannot be lost. They are likely to fetch more today than the price you paid for them in their original form.
You should choose a reputable firm that offers competitive rates. Consider using a third-party custody company to keep your assets safe and allow you to access them at any time.
Remember that you will not see any returns unless you are retired if you open an Account. Do not forget about the future!
How much of your portfolio should be in precious metals?
This question can only be answered if we first know what precious metals are. Precious metals have elements with an extremely high worth relative to other commodity. This makes them valuable in investment and trading. Today, gold is the most commonly traded precious metal.
There are also many other precious metals such as platinum and silver. The price of gold fluctuates, but it generally remains stable during times of economic turmoil. It also remains relatively unaffected by inflation and deflation.
In general, prices for precious metals tend increase with the overall marketplace. They do not always move in the same direction. The price of gold tends to rise when the economy is not doing well, but the prices of the other precious metals tends downwards. This is because investors expect lower rates of interest, which makes bonds less attractive investments.
In contrast, when the economy is strong, the opposite effect occurs. Investors choose safe assets such Treasury Bonds over precious metals. Since these are scarce, they become more expensive and decrease in value.
Diversifying across precious metals is a great way to maximize your investment returns. Because precious metals prices are subject to fluctuations, it is best to invest across multiple precious metal types, rather than focusing on one.
What are the benefits to having a gold IRA
The best way to invest money for retirement is by putting it into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). It's not subject to tax until you withdraw it. You have complete control over how much you take out each year. There are many types to choose from when it comes to IRAs. Some are more suitable for students who wish to save money for college. Some are better suited for investors who want higher returns. Roth IRAs let individuals contribute after age 591/2 and pay tax on any earnings at retirement. Once they start withdrawing money, however, the earnings aren’t subject to tax again. This account may be worth considering if you are looking to retire earlier.
Because it allows you money to be invested in multiple asset classes, a ‘gold IRA' is similar to any other IRAs. Unlike a regular IRA that requires you to pay taxes on the gains you make while you wait to access them, a gold IRA does not have to do this. For people who would rather invest than spend their money, gold IRA accounts are a good option.
Another advantage to owning gold via an IRA is the ease of automatic withdraws. This eliminates the need to constantly make deposits. To avoid missing a payment, direct debits can be set up.
Finally, gold is one of the safest investment choices available today. Because it isn’t tied to any specific country, gold’s value tends to stay stable. Even during economic turmoil the gold price tends to remain fairly stable. Gold is a good option for protecting your savings from inflation.
Statistics
- If you accidentally make an improper transaction, the IRS will disallow it and count it as a withdrawal, so you would owe income tax on the item's value and, if you are younger than 59 ½, an additional 10% early withdrawal penalty. (forbes.com)
- If you take distributions before hitting 59.5, you'll owe a 10% penalty on the amount withdrawn. (lendedu.com)
- The price of gold jumped 131 percent from late 2007 to September 2011, when it hit a high of $1,921 an ounce, according to the World Gold Council. (aarp.org)
- Gold is considered a collectible, and profits from a sale are taxed at a maximum rate of 28 percent. (aarp.org)
- You can only purchase gold bars at least 99.5% purity. (forbes.com)
External Links
wsj.com
- Saddam Hussein's Invasion Helped Uncage a Bear In 1990 – WSJ
- Want to Keep Gold in Your IRA at Home? It's not exactly legal – WSJ
irs.gov
finance.yahoo.com
forbes.com
- Gold IRA: Add some sparkle to your retirement nest egg
- Understanding China's Evergrande Crisis – Forbes Advisor
How To
Three Ways to Invest In Gold For Retirement
It is important to understand the role of gold in your retirement plan. There are many ways to invest in gold if you have a 401k account at work. You might also be interested to invest in gold outside the workplace. You could, for example, open a custodial bank account at Fidelity Investments if your IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is open. If you don't have any precious metals yet, you might want to buy them from a reputable dealer.
These are the three rules to follow if you decide to invest in gold.
- Buy Gold With Your Cash – Do not use credit cards to purchase gold. Instead, put cash into your accounts. This will help you to protect yourself against inflation while also preserving your purchasing power.
- Physical Gold Coins You Should Buy – Physical gold coins should be purchased over a paper certificate. Physical gold coins are easier to sell than certificates. There are no storage fees for physical gold coins.
- Diversify Your Portfolio – Never put all of your eggs in one basket. This is how you spread your wealth. You can invest in different assets. This helps reduce risk and gives you more flexibility during market volatility.
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By: Jamie Redman
Title: Sam Bankman-Fried Testifies in Ongoing Hearing Regarding Message Deletion and Use of Customer Funds
Sourced From: news.bitcoin.com/prosecutors-probe-sam-bankman-frieds-memory-in-ftx-case-without-jury/
Published Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2023 13:30:55 +0000
