With her partner soon heading to prison in only 70 days following his sentencing in connection to the downfall of FTX, Michelle Bond has revealed the establishment of a crypto-focused think tank in Washington, DC.
In a notification dated June 20, Bond announced the creation of Digital Future, a think tank she played a role in launching. This venture marks one of the initial professional endeavors Bond has undertaken since the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX. Contributions made to her 2022 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives from the company were cited in the charges against her partner Ryan Salame, the former co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets.
According to Bond, the primary focus of the think tank will be to advocate for a “favorable regulatory environment” for financial technology, digital assets, and artificial intelligence (AI) within the United States. She emphasized that American lawmakers have yet to enact significant and impactful legislation regarding crypto and AI.
Prior to the FTX collapse, Bond held the position of CEO at the Association for Digital Asset Markets. Additionally, she has been the CEO of Capitol Advisory since 2023, a consulting firm that offers assistance to fintech companies on regulatory, legal, and public policy matters. Bond also served as counsel for the U.S. Senate Banking Committee from 2011 to 2012.
The exact timing of the launch of the crypto think tank remains uncertain. With less than five months left until the U.S. presidential election and numerous states holding primaries in June, the establishment of Digital Future raises questions. Despite reaching out to Digital Future for comment, Cointelegraph did not receive a response at the time of reporting.
In a related development, Salame pleaded guilty in September 2023 to charges of conspiracy to make illegal political contributions and operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business. In May, a federal judge handed down a 7.5-year prison sentence to the former FTX executive. Salame is slated to surrender to authorities on August 29.
Salame’s charges stem directly from Bond’s congressional campaign. Although she ran as a Republican candidate for the 1st Congressional District of New York in 2022, the campaign failed to progress beyond the party’s primary. Allegations were made that the former FTX executive funneled contributions to Bond’s campaign through a corporation, violating U.S. laws.
Following his sentencing, Salame reactivated his X account for the first time in approximately two years. He shared insights on the crypto market and the U.S. political landscape ahead of his prison reporting date. It is worth noting that Salame and Bond share a seven-month-old child.
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