FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty Tuesday to US criminal fraud charges over the spectacular collapse of his crypto exchange.
The 30-year-old former digital currency billionaire, who is out on bail, entered the plea in federal court in Manhattan before New York judge Lewis Kaplan.
FTX and its sister trading house Alameda Research went bankrupt in November, dissolving a virtual trading business that at one point had been valued by the market at $32 billion.
The United States has charged Bankman-Fried with conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and election finance violations.
Prosecutors allege he cheated investors and misused funds that belonged to FTX and Alameda Research customers.
Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty to all eight counts against him — five of which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison each.
Judge Kaplan set a tentative date of October 2 for the start of his trial.
After its founding in 2019, FTX soared to become a leading player in the crypto-currency world.
Bankman-Fried appeared on the covers of magazines, drew in huge investments from prominent fund managers and venture capitalists and was touted as a future Warren Buffett
