Bankman-Fried to Testify After Onslaught From Inner Circle (3)

Sam Bankman-Fried will take the stand to defend his actions in the lead-up to the collapse of his digital-asset empire, after taking a beating from former colleagues who described him as the mastermind of a years-long scheme to defraud FTX customers and investors.

Bankman-Fried’s lawyers said on a conference call with the judge Wednesday that their client will testify at his fraud trial after the prosecution finishes its case. The 31-year-old could take the stand, barring a last-minute change, as soon as Thursday afternoon.

The once respected crypto mogul is facing decades in prison on charges that he directed the ...