2025-12-26 11:26:05

After years of legal proceedings, Alameda Research's former CEO Caroline Ellison is about to be released from federal prison. According to the latest confirmation from the U.S. SEC, she will be released on January 21, 2026. This development marks another chapter in the collapse of FTX/Alameda Research.

It is worth noting that executives like Ellison have agreed to settlement agreements with regulatory authorities and are currently awaiting final court approval. Meanwhile, the case's main figure, Sam Bankman-Fried, is still serving his sentence and faces a much harsher prison term.

Since FTX's sudden collapse in November 2022, this case has become one of the most shocking warnings in the crypto industry. From impressive funding valuations to a complete black hole of funds, from a "genius entrepreneur" to behind bars, the fall of Alameda Research has reshaped the industry's understanding of risk management and transparency.

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OnchainHolmes

· 8h ago

The confession from Juan was too quick, which is why the prison terms are so different. Ellison definitely knows how to play the game, but the real mastermind SBF still has to serve more time. Coming out in 2026? Feels like this isn't over yet. That's why I never touch centralized exchanges, it's really outrageous. Settlement, huh? Having money is really good. No matter what, SBF deserves it, but Ellison's move is indeed quite ironic. Going from a genius to a prisoner, it really happens overnight. Each king of the game has their own ending haha. I really can't understand why confessing can lead to such a short sentence, what's the logic behind that? Oh my God, is this the lesson learned from what they call risk management?

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CryptoTarotReader

· 8h ago

The guilty plea scheme... it should have been applied to all the big shots long ago. --- Coming out in 2026? SBF still has to serve time, this differential treatment is truly unmatched. --- Guilty plea and settlement again, this is called the "game of smart people," haha. --- From favored financier to behind bars, this plot is more outrageous than a novel. The industry should wake up. --- Regulatory authorities always act last, really. --- She cooperates as a witness to get a reduced sentence, this routine is worn out in the financial circle. Why didn't SBF think of that?

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ChainWatcher

· 8h ago

Damn, this is what you call "pleading guilty for leniency." Ellison is almost out, and SBF still has to keep serving time. My mindset is collapsing. They hyped it up so much back then, now it all becomes a negative example. Basically, this tells us... due diligence really shouldn't be lazy. Many "geniuses" are actually just paper tigers. It should have been handled like this from the start. Transparency is not just a slogan. They're almost out of prison? Time really flies... some people are still inside. 2026, I've been waiting so long that my flowers have withered, but at least it's better than serving a lifetime in prison. This case feels like a mirror, reflecting an industry that’s not very comfortable. This is the benefit of "cooperating with the investigation." Attitude determines everything.

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ShadowStaker

· 8h ago

ngl ellison getting out in 2026 while sbf rots... the sentencing disparity is wild. guess cooperating pays off lmao

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DecentralizedElder

· 8h ago

Ha, it's the same old story of market manipulation. How long will Ellison stay out? 2026 feels both far and near. With no supply left, what’s there to talk about in terms of funding and valuation? It’s just a Ponzi scheme dressed up nicely. How is SBF doing now? Still dreaming of counting money in prison, haha. This case really scared many project founders to death. Now everyone’s acting super cautious. I’m actually quite surprised that Ellison admitted it. I thought he would keep fighting till the end. But honestly, the fact that these two received such different sentences is kind of interesting. Whose fault is heavier? 2026 will come quickly, and there will be new stories then. The crypto world is like this—lessons learned this year are forgotten by next year.

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ForkThisDAO

· 8h ago

Damn, the speed of this settlement, I should have become an executive if I knew earlier. SBF is still inside haha Naming a few people and you can walk away completely, really playing around Coming out in 2026? It feels like the whole industry is learning how to "save face" and move on That wave at Alameda directly taught me what risk management is—it's nothing This case really has made Web3 a bit fragile, money is gone and people have run away Why does it always feel like the big fish come out unscathed Both settlement and approval, this process looks like just going through the motions The funding valuation was so glamorous back then, and now we just barely got through it Honestly, SBF's prison sentence is the real pain If everything has already exploded, how can some people still come out so gracefully The whole incident is just a joke, nothing more

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