Alameda Research

Manifund

2026-09-15 17:10:25

Manifund hires Caroline Ellison while facing FTX suit over at least $1.508 million

Manifund, the charity founded by Austin Chen and focused on AI and effective altruism, has acknowledged hiring former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison, according to Protos. The move has drawn scrutiny because FTX is still pursuing litigation tied to funding Chen’s organization received from the FTX Future Fund in 2022. Protos said Chen’s group, then operating as Manifold Markets, applied in March 2022 for $500,000 to launch Manifold For Charity, now known as Manifund. The report noted that William MacAskill and Leopold Aschenbrenner, both described as important figures in effective altruism, helped run the Future Fund and therefore helped approve the grant application. After FTX and Alameda entered bankruptcy six months later, criminal cases followed for Sam Bankman-Fried, Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, and Nishad Singh. Protos said Bankman-Fried received a 25-year sentence, Ellison received two years and was released in January 2026, while Wang and Singh received no prison time. During that period, Manifund said it funded nearly 500 projects and distributed almost $20 million in grants. Still, FTX sued Manifold Markets in 2024 for $508,000, and in July 2025 added Manifold For Charity to an amended complaint seeking no less than $1.508 million. Protos said the case is ongoing and no resolution has been reached.

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Alameda Resea

2026-09-15 01:01:41

Alameda Research Transfers $9.47 Million in SOL to Coinbase Prime

Alameda Research moved about $9.47 million worth of SOL to Coinbase Prime on the night before Sept. 15, according to on-chain tracking data from Arkham. The transfer marks the latest move in what BlockBeats described as an asset distribution process that has continued for more than two years. Despite the latest transfer, Alameda Research still holds roughly $270.15 million worth of SOL on-chain. The update was reported by BlockBeats on Sept. 15.

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Caroline Elli

2026-09-14 10:27:07

Caroline Ellison Joins Manifund, Sparking Backlash Across Effective Altruism Circles

Caroline Ellison, the former Alameda Research CEO and onetime collaborator and partner of Sam Bankman-Fried, has joined Manifund, a nonprofit that backs artificial intelligence safety and effective altruism work. Cofounder Austin Chen said Ellison started a trial on July 13, moved into a full-time role on Aug. 10, and had been working under the pseudonym Carol before the appointment was disclosed publicly. According to Chen, she helped build Manifund’s funding platform, supported users, and created a reconciliation tool that identified several misregistered transactions in the organization’s database involving five- and six-figure sums. Chen also apologized for what he described as a minor deception tied to the use of a pseudonym. The announcement drew a swift and largely negative response. Critics including Cate Hall argued the hiring reflected poor judgment and could damage not only Manifund’s standing but also that of other effective altruism organizations. Another commenter questioned whether the role had been publicly posted or whether other candidates were considered, saying Chen’s justifications appeared mostly personal rather than business-based. Ellison said she appreciated being judged on her present work rather than her past and would not respond to comments. Her legal history remains central to the reaction: she pleaded guilty in December 2022 to fraud and conspiracy charges, was sentenced in September 2024 to two years in prison, began serving that sentence in November, and was released in January after 440 days, with credit for cooperation and good conduct.

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Caroline Elli

2026-09-12 08:46:13

Caroline Ellison takes role at Manifund after release, joining AI safety charity work

Caroline Ellison, the former chief executive of Alameda Research, has taken a full-time role at Manifund, an AI safety and effective altruism charity, in her first disclosed job since leaving prison. Manifund co-founder Austin Chen said on Sept. 11 that Ellison joined to help build the group’s fundraising platform and strengthen its public-interest projects. According to the organization, she began working in July on a trial basis, switched to full-time in August, and initially published under the pseudonym "Carol" before her identity was made public this week. Ellison said she was grateful for a second chance and said she was being judged on her current work rather than her past. Chen said he believed she could seek redemption, pointing to her admission of wrongdoing, efforts to help creditors recover funds, and completion of her sentence. The hire revives debate tied to the FTX collapse: whether cooperation, testimony, and prison time should be enough to reopen a path back into public life, especially while victims have not been fully repaid. The report also contrasts Ellison’s situation with that of Sam Bankman-Fried, who received a 25-year sentence and remains in prison.

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Alameda Resea

2026-09-12 08:53:00

Alameda/FTX-linked wallets unstake $20.62 million in SOL

Onchain data tracked by Onchain Lens shows that wallets linked to Alameda Research and FTX have unstaked 202,710 SOL, worth about $20.62 million based on the figures cited in the report. The tokens were then transferred to a staking wallet tied to the bankruptcy estate. The source report’s headline said the move may be related to creditor repayments, though the body of the report did not give additional details on distribution plans, timing, or destination beyond the estate wallet. The update was published by PANews on Sept. 12. No other operational details were disclosed in the source material.

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Caroline Elli

2026-09-11 21:44:35

Caroline Ellison joins nonprofit Manifund to work on donation platform

Caroline Ellison, the former chief executive of Alameda Research, has joined nonprofit charity Manifund, according to ChainCatcher. Manifund co-founder Austin Chen said Ellison will work on the organization’s donation platform and help strengthen its charitable efforts. She began in a trial role in July, moved to full-time status in August, and posted work updates under the alias “Carol.” Ellison previously pleaded guilty in December 2022 to fraud and conspiracy charges tied to the 2022 collapse of FTX, a failure that led to billions of dollars in customer losses. She later cooperated with prosecutors and testified against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Ellison began serving a two-year sentence in November 2024 and was released early in January 2026 after cooperating with investigators. Chen said he believes in redemption, adding that Ellison admitted her wrongdoing, worked to repay creditors, and served time in prison. Ellison said she is excited about the new role, apologized for her past conduct, and thanked Chen for giving her a second chance. Manifund’s website says the organization focuses on AI safety and effective altruism projects.

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SBF

2026-09-11 00:05:55

SBF asks the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn fraud conviction and grant a new trial

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, widely known as SBF, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear his appeal, according to CNN. He is seeking a new trial and wants the court to set aside an order requiring the forfeiture of $11 billion in assets. Bankman-Fried was sentenced in 2024 to 25 years in prison. The appeal centers on a technical legal dispute over evidence presented at trial. It also raises the question of whether Bankman-Fried should have been allowed to argue that his investments were ultimately profitable and sufficient to cover losses suffered by FTX customers. Prosecutors had said he directed billions of dollars from crypto exchange FTX to Alameda Research, the hedge fund he controlled, and that the money was later used for high-risk investments, political donations, and personal spending. Bankman-Fried is also arguing that the $11 billion forfeiture violates the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which bars excessive fines.

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FTX

2026-09-11 00:07:00

SBF asks U.S. Supreme Court for new trial and to void $11 billion forfeiture order

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, widely known as SBF, filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday seeking a new trial and asking the court to overturn an order requiring the forfeiture of $11 billion in assets, according to CNN. Bankman-Fried was sentenced in 2024 to 25 years in prison. Prosecutors had said he directed billions of dollars from crypto exchange FTX to Alameda Research, the hedge fund he controlled. Those funds were later used for high-risk investments, political donations and personal spending. The Supreme Court filing centers on a technical legal dispute over evidence presented at trial. It also raises the question of whether Bankman-Fried should have been allowed to argue that his investments were ultimately profitable and sufficient to cover losses suffered by FTX customers. In addition, the appeal argues that the $11 billion forfeiture violates the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which bars excessive fines.

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