In the midst of Sam Bankman-Fried’s ongoing trial, a significant turn of events has emerged. Prosecutors are advocating to prevent any introduction of evidence or arguments related to the current value of FTX’s $500 million investment in Anthropic. This startup artificial intelligence company has been in the limelight due to its ambitions to raise additional funding from significant players such as Amazon and Google. These developments suggest a potential escalation in Anthropic’s valuation, somewhere between $20 billion and $30 billion.
Behind this request lies the government’s claim that SBF, the defendant, allegedly misused FTX customers’ funds for his hefty investment in Anthropic back in April 2022. The prosecution maintains that any evidence pointing towards the present worth of this investment bears no relevance to the case. Their argument is that such evidence may inadvertently bolster the defense’s argument that FTX customers and other victims could eventually receive compensation – a topic that the court has already deemed inappropriate.
Further supporting their position is a prior ruling in a similar trial. Concurrently, speculation is brewing that if allowed, these details regarding the Anthropic investment could potentially influence how this case is viewed, especially concerning the recovery prospects for FTX’s customers and other creditors involved in the bankruptcy proceedings of the crypto exchange.
Nevertheless, the prosecutors are unwavering in their request. They argue any presentation of such values in the trial could lead to an unnecessary bias, confusion, or waste of time. Determining the merit of these arguments will fall upon Judge Kaplan, who is presiding over SBF’s trial.
So far, the case’s progression has seen scarce outcomes favoring the defense. The prosecution’s key witness, Caroline Ellison, has yet to take the stand. As the courtroom drama unfolds amidst this high-profile case, eye-catching developments are expected to come. However, to what extent the judge’s decision on the prosecutors’ recent request will sway the outcome of the trial remains to be seen.
Source: Cryptonews
