Bankman-Fried Can Have Flip Phone, Limited Internet While on Bail, US Proposes

NEW YORK—Sam Bankman-Fried should be allowed while on bail to have a flip phone with no internet capability and a basic laptop with limited functions, but be forbidden from using other electronic communication devices, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

On Friday, the proposal was made to restrict communications of the indicted FTX crypto exchange founder. It was filed in Manhattan federal court on Friday night on behalf the government and Bankman-Fried’s defense team.

This case requires the approval of U.S. Circuit Judge Lewis Kaplan who supervises it.

Kaplan indicated at the February 16 hearing that Kaplan might imprison Bankman-Fried, 30, for testing his $250 million bail amount by using communications that were not monitored.

Bankma was not to be set by the judge, he said.