Sam Bankman Fried Is Using A New Currency In Prison To Get Favors From Inmates -- Fish

Mehab Qureshi

November 23, 2023

In the confines of New York's Metropolitan Detention Center, Sam Bankman-Fried, the former crypto magnate is adapting to the prison’s underground economy.

What Happened: According to Wall Street Journal, Bankman-Fried has been observed negotiating barters for daily necessities as he awaits trial on a multitude of charges, including wire fraud and schemes to defraud.

The report said that Bankman-Fried paid for his haircut with a stash of packaged mackerel, favored among inmates as a tradeable asset.

Cigarettes, once the standard prison currency, were dethroned when federal prisons banned them in 2004. The void was filled by “macks,” as prisoners colloquially refer to the fish packets, which took their place as an alternate monetary system, according to a past report by the Wall Street Journal.

See More: Dogecoin HODLERs Are Beating Shiba Inu With 57% Landing In Profits, IntoTheBlock Data Reveals

Why It Matters: An individual with knowledge of the situation indicated that Bankman-Fried is permitted to receive one visit each week from individuals who are not his legal counsel. He has also been granted the use of a designated laptop that is restricted to reviewing legal documents. Additionally, Bankman-Fried, along with his fellow detainees, has access to a computer room fitted with desks, which are partitioned by plastic dividers.

Although Bankman-Fried’s era of channeling billions into new ventures and maneuvering through the crypto markets has come to an end, he hasn’t completely stepped away from the cryptocurrency landscape. It’s been mentioned by the same source that he has been offering cryptocurrency advice to the correctional officers overseeing him.

Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) was trading at $36,344.38, down 3.11% in the last 24 hours according to Benzinga Pro.

Photo via Shutterstock.

Read Next: Here’s How Much You Should Invest In Shiba Inu Today For A $1M Payday If SHIB Hits 1 Cent?

Recommended

$270,000 Drug. One Competitor. Billion-Dollar Market. - Ad

Weiss Gold Veteran Makes Shocking New Call - Ad

Investing Legend Hints the End May Be Near for These 3 Iconic Stocks - Ad

Popular

AutoZone Set For Solid Quarter As Consumer Demand Rebounds: Analyst

AutoZone shares were little changed as a JPMorgan analyst highlighted resilient demand, improving comps and stronger long-term earnings power.

Netflix Stock Slides As Alarm Bells Ring Related To Potential HBO Max Bundle

Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:NFLX) shares slipped on Wednesday amid cost concerns related to a potential HBO Max bundle.

The $43B Big Pharma Story is Starting Over-With a New Player

The $43B Big Pharma Story is Starting Over-With a New Player - Ad

Big Pharma once paid $43B for a small biotech with a similar platform. Now, a new company is following that same playbook, leveraging its patented delivery technology to attract partnerships and near-term revenue potential.

Anthony Scaramucci Says Solana Will Become The Tokenization Industry Standard

Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) gained attention on Wednesday after SkyBridge founder Anthony Scaramucci said the blockchain is positioned to become an industry

Walmart Stock Just Hit A New All-Time High: What's Going On?

Walmart Inc (NYSE: WMT) shares are trading higher on Wednesday, reaching a new all-time high. Here's what you need to know.

Legally "Skim" $6,361 Into Your Account?

Legally "Skim" $6,361 Into Your Account? - Ad

A former hedge fund manager is now sharing his "Skim Codes" with regular people. They're not stocks. They're not crypto. They're 18-character codes designed to profit from recent market conditions. All you have to do is punch them into an ordinary brokerage account. 84% of these codes have given people the chance to generate cash payouts so far... and his next code is going out any day now.

Trump 'Very Seriously' Considering Australian Retirement Savings System For US Working People: 'It's A Good Plan'

President Donald Trump has revealed that his administration is actively exploring the possibility of implementing a retirement savings system similar to Australia's in the United States.

DOJ Greenlights Strikes on Drug Boats, Citing Fentanyl as Potential Chemical Weapon

The DOJ has classified Fentanyl as a potential chemical weapon. This classification has led to the authorization of strikes on drug-smuggling boats.

The Next Biggest Bull Run In Over 50 Years

The Next Biggest Bull Run In Over 50 Years - Ad

Gold has hit all-time highs, breaking $4,000 an ounce - but history shows it could be on the verge of its biggest bull run in over half a century... triggered by a likely major event, eerily similar to what happened in the 1970s. (It's NOT inflation or anything you're likely expecting.) Now, a top analyst says you can capture ALL of the upside without touching a risky miner or a boring exchange-traded fund. He sees extraordinary potential gains long term with very little risk.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Goes Bargain Shopping, Discloses Buying These Two Stocks At 52-Week Lows

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene disclosed some new stocks recently. Unlike past trades in 2024 and 2025, the latest disclosure is rather unique.

5 Financial To-Dos Before the End of 2025

As 2025 winds down, here are some moves to help you finish the year strong financially. Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, Christine Benz, discusses strategies.

Retire Comfortably with These New Monthly Income ETFs?

Retire Comfortably with These New Monthly Income ETFs? - Ad

Retirement should be freedom, not stress. Yet outdated advice and tiny returns leave many trapped. Kelly G. broke free with a revolutionary income strategy once reserved for the wealthy - hitting her "Freedom Number" faster than she dreamed. You might already have enough too.

Trump attacks ABC News correspondent Mary Bruce in angry response to three sharp questions

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump denounced ABC News' Mary Bruce as a “terrible reporter” Tuesday and threatened the network's license to broadcast after she asked him three sharp questions at the White House.

Scaramucci Says This One US Mistake Helped China Become a Manufacturing Superpower

Anthony Scaramucci recently highlighted what he considers a significant error by the US that enabled China to ascend as a manufacturing superpower.

Trump Signs Law to Launch Dollar 2.0

Trump Signs Law to Launch Dollar 2.0 - Ad

Trump just signed law S.1582, unleashing the biggest money shift in 100+ years. For the first time since 1913, private firms - not the Fed - can mint a "Dollar 2.0." Treasury says it could drain $6.6T from banks and pay 10X current savings rates. Early investors in minting firms could see 40X returns by 2032.

Evommune's Skin Disorder Candidate Has 'Blockbuster Commercial Opportunity': Analyst Projects $5 Billion Peak Sales

Evommune gains an Outperform rating as William Blair cites strong EVO756 trial data and blockbuster sales potential.

Trump says he's rebuilding Dulles airport while his administration is fixing the 'people movers'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his administration will embark on a reconstruction of Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia.

Copper Is Tight, Silver Is Rising - And This Early Nevada Play Hits the Timing Perfectly

Copper Is Tight, Silver Is Rising - And This Early Nevada Play Hits the Timing Perfectly - Ad

AI, electrification, battery storage, and data centers are pushing copper and silver demand sharply higher, even as supply stays tight. This region in Nevada offers rare multi-metal potential, and a new company has secured land in a district the surging district. It's one of the cleanest timing setups in the sector right now.

BRICS Outpaces G7, The Undeniable Economic Rebalancing

BRICS+ now has a larger share of world GDP than G7. BRICS+ GDP, measured in PPP, is $75.6 trillion vs. G7's $56.6 trillion.

Here's How Americans Spent a Record $18 Billion Chasing Thanksgiving Week Deals

American consumers have demonstrated their purchasing power this Black Friday.

The Smart Money Copper Trade

The Smart Money Copper Trade - Ad

Quebec discovery. Strong grades. Roads and hydro in place. Funding secured for a busy drill calendar. Each assay can build scale and tighten the window for early entries as EVs and data centers pull harder on copper. Do not wait.

Samsung Vs Apple: The Foldable Phone War Just Went Nuclear

Samsung just launched a game-changing foldable phone, putting pressure on Apple's rumored foldable iPhone. Will foldables become mainstream?

Salesforce Q3 Preview: Record Revenue Predicted, Can Shares Recover After 30% Drop In 2025?

Salesforce shares are down in 2025. The company's Q3 results and Q4 guidance could see shares volatile in the last month of the year.

$270,000 Drug. One Competitor. Billion-Dollar Market.

$270,000 Drug. One Competitor. Billion-Dollar Market. - Ad

Phase 3 trial targets recurrent pericarditis with an oral therapy that could disrupt the only approved treatment. And their heart failure program launches in 2026.

Nikki Haley's Son Says GOP Must Act Or Lose Gen Z To 'Mamdani-Style' Socialism: 'We Are Going In The Opposite Direction'

Nalin Haley, conservative activist and the son of former Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley, has spoken out about the challenges faced by his generation, Gen Z, and the need for Republicans to address them.

Peter Lynch on AI Stocks: 'I Literally Couldn't Pronounce Nvidia Until About Eight Months Ago'

Peter Lynch has stated that he does not hold any artificial intelligence (AI) stocks, despite the sector's recent surge.

Weiss Gold Veteran Makes Shocking New Call

Weiss Gold Veteran Makes Shocking New Call - Ad

Weiss expert Sean Brodrick went out on a limb last year and declared a historic event would send the yellow metal to $3,150. People laughed at him at the time, but he was off by just two days. Now, Sean has a shocking new prediction for gold ... and reveals a little-known way to get ahead of this bull market.

California revokes 17,000 driver's licenses. But the state disputes it is over immigration concerns

California plans to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses given to immigrants after the Trump administration raised concerns about people in the country illegally receiving licenses to drive a semitruck or a bus. But Gov. Gavin Newsom said that isn't the reason.

Elon Musk Says He Doesn't Buy Stocks, But Thinks Google Will Be 'Pretty Valuable' In The Future And Nvidia's An 'Obvious' One

Elon Musk says he doesn't invest in stocks but believes Google and Nvidia are best positioned to dominate the future economy through AI, robotics, and space, while both companies continue to post strong earnings and market gains.

Investing Legend Hints the End May Be Near for These 3 Iconic Stocks

Investing Legend Hints the End May Be Near for These 3 Iconic Stocks - Ad

Futurist Eric Fry say Amazon, Tesla and Nvidia are all on the verge of major disruption. To help protect anyone with money invested in them, he's sharing three exciting stocks to replace them with. He gives away the names and tickers completely free in his brand-new "Sell This, Buy That" broadcast.

AT&T reached a $177M data breach settlement. What consumers should know about claiming their money

NEW YORK (AP) — AT&T has reached a combined $177 million settlement over two . And impacted consumers have a little over a month left to file a claim for their chunk of the money.

Strategy Inc, Beyond Meat, Credo Technology, Synopsys And Apple: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

U.S. markets slipped on Monday, with the Dow Jones falling 0.9% to 47,289.33, the S&P 500 easing 0.5% to 6,812.63, and the Nasdaq edging down nearly 0.4% to 23,275.92. These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors through the day:

The $43B Big Pharma Story is Starting Over-With a New Player

The $43B Big Pharma Story is Starting Over-With a New Player - Ad

Iran confirms seizure of oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran on Saturday confirmed as it traveled through the narrow Strait of Hormuz over violations including carrying an illegal consignment, state media reported.

OpenAI's Partners Rake Up $96 Billion Debt as AI Industry's Borrowing Trend Escalates

Companies supplying data centers, chips, and processing power to OpenAI have racked up a staggering $96 billion in debt to fund their operations.

Legally "Skim" $6,361 Into Your Account?

Legally "Skim" $6,361 Into Your Account? - Ad

A third Russian tanker attacked in the Black Sea, Turkish authority says

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A tanker carrying sunflower oil from Russia to Georgia was attacked in the Black Sea, the Turkish maritime authority said Tuesday, days after by .

San Francisco sues nation's top food manufacturers over ultraprocessed foods

The city of San Francisco filed a lawsuit against some of the nation's top food manufacturers on Tuesday, arguing that ultraprocessed food from the likes of Coca-Cola and Nestle are responsible for a public health crisis.

The Next Biggest Bull Run In Over 50 Years

The Next Biggest Bull Run In Over 50 Years - Ad

Why Falcon's Beyond Stock Is Jumping Today

Falcon's Beyond shares surge on Tuesday after the company was preliminarily slated for Russell 2000 inclusion, boosting visibility despite ongoing losses.

Trending Now