Co-signers of Bankman-Fried’s $250 million bond a step closer to becoming public

The names of two people who co-signed for disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s bond are one step closer to becoming public after a federal judge granted a motion to unseal their names. The identities could be made public next month.

“The information sought … traditionally is public information,” U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote in a court filing on Monday afternoon. “In my view, the individual bonds should be on the public record.”

Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to a litany of criminal charges, including fraud, and is awaiting an October trial. His parents, Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, co-signed his $250 million bond in December. A pair of additional signers, whose names have so far been redacted, also signed lesser bonds for $500,000 and $200,000.

A group of news organizations asked the court to unseal the names of the two unknown signers, one of whom was required to be a non-family member. News organizations argued that the public has a right to the information, while Bankman-Fried’s lawyer has said the signers might face threats and harassment if their identities are revealed. 

Kaplan granted the motion, which is stayed until Feb. 7 in case of an appeal. The stay will remain until Feb. 14 if the court receives a notice of appeal. Prosecutors are also seeking to amend Bankman-Fried's bail terms, alleging that he has reached out to a witness in the case.