TLDR
- The SEC finalized civil judgments against Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, and Nishad Singh over the FTX collapse.
- Ellison faces a 10-year ban, while Wang and Singh face 8-year bans from public company roles.
- The SEC claims FTX secretly provided Alameda with special privileges, diverting customer funds.
- All three executives agreed to permanent injunctions barring violations of U.S. securities laws.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has finalized civil consent judgments against three former executives of FTX and its sister firm, Alameda Research. Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, and Nishad Singh were involved in the crypto exchange’s collapse, with the SEC accusing them of misleading investors and diverting customer funds for personal gain. The civil judgments, which are awaiting court approval, conclude a significant chapter in the SEC’s enforcement case tied to the failure of FTX.
FTX’s Alleged Misrepresentation of Operations
According to the SEC, FTX misled investors by falsely portraying itself as a secure and reliable trading platform. The platform raised more than $1.8 billion, claiming to offer strong protections for customer assets. Additionally, FTX assured investors that Alameda Research operated like any other customer on the exchange. However, the SEC revealed that these claims were false. In reality, FTX secretly granted Alameda special privileges, allowing the firm to circumvent risk controls and providing an unlimited line of credit backed by customer deposits.
The SEC alleges that Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda, used these funds for high-risk trading, investments, and loans to executives. Wang and Singh, who were key figures at FTX, are accused of creating the software systems that enabled the diversion of customer funds to Alameda.
Settlements and Bans for Executives
Without admitting or denying the SEC’s allegations, all three former executives agreed to settle the charges by accepting permanent injunctions. These injunctions prohibit them from engaging in activities that would violate U.S. securities laws. As part of the settlements, Ellison has consented to a 10-year ban from serving as an officer or director of any public company. Meanwhile, Wang and Singh have agreed to 8-year bans from holding similar roles.
In addition to these bans, all three individuals have agreed to 5-year conduct-based injunctions. These injunctions allow the SEC to take swift action if any of the former executives reenter securities-related activities inappropriately.
Criminal Sentences and Current Status of Executives
As of December 2025, the criminal status of the three executives has been resolved. Caroline Ellison is under home confinement, with her release expected in early 2026. Both Gary Wang and Nishad Singh received time-served sentences, having cooperated extensively with federal prosecutors. Wang is currently under supervised release, as is Singh.
The SEC’s enforcement case against these executives marks a significant step in the regulatory response to the FTX collapse. The civil judgments are expected to further strengthen the SEC’s efforts to hold individuals accountable for misconduct in the cryptocurrency space.
