Caroline Ellison, once a leading figure at Alameda Research — the trading unit tied to the collapsed FTX exchange — has left federal custody after serving around 14 months. Her release marks the end of her prison term in a case that became one of the most high-profile fraud scandals in the cryptocurrency world.
Ellison pleaded guilty in 2024 to multiple charges, including fraud and money laundering. She was originally sentenced to two years behind bars, but later moved to community confinement before fully completing her sentence this week.
During the trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, Ellison testified against him, claiming that key illegal decisions were made under his orders. Bankman-Fried was subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The FTX collapse shook global crypto markets and led to increased regulatory attention on the industry. As part of her punishment, Ellison was ordered to forfeit $11 billion in assets, a figure that highlights the scale of the scandal.
With Ellison’s term now concluded, attention remains on Bankman-Fried, who continues to serve his sentence in a federal facility in Los Angeles.