US charges Sam Bankman-Fried for bribing Chinese officials

US officials alleged that former FTX chief Sam Bankman-Fried authorized bribes of at least $40 million to Chinese officials, according to an updated indictment filed Tuesday.

The payments came after Chinese officials in early 2021 froze some $1 billion in cryptocurrency trading accounts controlled by FTX affiliate Alameda, according to an amended criminal indictment signed by US Attorney Damian Williams.

The move amounts to a 13th criminal charge against the former cryptocurrency highflyer, for 'conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.'

Bankman-Fried has also been charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering as well as election finance violations.