Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, once positioned himself as a visionary in the crypto and tech worlds. Before his empire crumbled amid allegations of massive fraud, SBF made several shrewd early investments that have since exploded in worth. These holdings, now spotlighted in recent discussions, highlight a portfolio that could have cemented his legacy as one of the sharpest investors of his generation—if not for his illegal shortcuts.
One standout move was injecting $500 million into Anthropic, an AI startup gaining traction in the generative intelligence space.
That stake, had it remained under his control, would today command an astonishing $70 billion, reflecting the meteoric rise of AI technologies and Anthropic’s pivotal role in the sector.
Similarly, SBF accumulated $60 million worth of Solana (SOL) tokens when they traded at around $8 each.
At their peak market value, this position would have swelled to $2.1 billion, capitalizing on Solana’s growth as a high-speed blockchain alternative to Ethereum.
Not stopping there, he allocated $100 million to Mysten Labs, the team behind the Sui blockchain.
Next time you feel bad for missing something that mooned
Imagine being SBF:
– Put $500m into Anthropic, which would now be worth $70b.
– Held $60m in $SOL at $8 that would've been worth $2.1b at the top.
– Put $100m into Mysten Labs that would now be worth over $800m.
-… pic.twitter.com/6axraF18DC— shah (@shahh) February 10, 2026
This investment has appreciated to over $800 million, underscoring the enduring appeal of innovative layer-1 protocols in the decentralized finance ecosystem.
Rounding out the list is his 7.5% equity in Robinhood, the popular retail trading app.
Acquired during a turbulent period for the company, this share would now fetch $10 billion, buoyed by Robinhood’s expansion into crypto trading and a rebounding stock market.
These figures paint a picture of missed opportunity on an epic scale.
Collectively, SBF’s early wagers could have yielded upwards of $80 billion in gains, transforming him from a fleeting crypto mogul into a enduring titan of finance.
Yet, everything was forfeited when authorities seized his assets following FTX‘s 2022 implosion, where he was convicted of misusing customer funds to prop up risky trades and personal ventures.
The irony is stark: SBF‘s downfall stemmed not from poor judgment in picking winners, but from an inability to manage risk ethically.
Had he avoided dipping into client deposits and operated within legal bounds, his portfolio might have flourished unchecked.
Running a legitimate hedge fund or venture arm, he could have leveraged his insights into emerging tech like AI and blockchain to build sustainable wealth.
Critics argue his effective altruism philosophy—donating vast sums to causes—masked a reckless gambler’s streak, but without the fraud, that same boldness might have earned him comparisons to Warren Buffett or Elon Musk.
In hindsight, SBF’s story serves as a cautionary tale for the fintech sector. Talent and foresight abound, but integrity remains the ultimate hedge against ruin. His investments‘ surge reminds us that true success demands patience, not predation.