The crypto world has been abuzz with the unexpected behavior of former FTX executive Ryan Salame as he prepares for his 7.5-year prison term. His recent social media activity has led to a flurry of memes and jokes from fellow industry members, particularly surrounding his unusual LinkedIn update.
From LinkedIn to Inmate Life
Ryan Salame, once a co-CEO at FTX Digital Markets, made headlines with a quirky LinkedIn post where he *enthusiastically* shared his new role as an inmate at FCI Cumberland. This peculiar announcement, which included adding “cleaning and whittling” to his skill set, caught the attention of the community, spurring numerous humorous comments, including one noted as a “banger post” by Alex Lieberman.
Responses ranged from clever remarks like “From LinkedIn to LockedIn” to the witty comment about transitioning from “blockchains to being in chains.” One reply humorously suggested that Salame is trying to avoid a gap in his work history.
Additionally, Salame lamented on X about losing his Wordle streak just before starting his prison term, which is set to begin on October 11. He seemed surprised by the popularity of his post, noting he *discovered* that “people still use LinkedIn.”
Court Rejects Delay for Surrender Date
Court filings indicate that Salame’s legal team attempted to further postpone his surrender date. They appealed to U.S. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan to extend the report date from October 11 to December 7, claiming ongoing medical treatment was required due to injuries he sustained from a dog bite in June 2024.
This injury had already delayed Salame’s initial reporting date, which was originally set for August 29.
Federal prosecutors opposed Salame’s request, labeling it an “eleventh-hour request” lacking adequate justification for a second delay. They pointed out that his previous postponement had been granted before he confessed to providing false testimony under oath.
Judge Kaplan expressed his disappointment with Salame’s actions during previous court appearances, even hinting at potential sanctions due to the false testimony he gave during his guilty plea in 2023.
Ultimately, the court dismissed Salame’s request for a delay, agreeing with the prosecutors that his medical needs seemed more cosmetic than urgent. Consequently, Judge Kaplan ordered Salame to report to prison by 2:00 pm as initially scheduled.
