Why the FTX Crypto Scam Is a Tale As Old As Time

“Whatever fun name you wanna put on it, it’s the same damn thing we’ve seen over and over again.” David Dayen, executive editor of The American Prospect, joins us to discuss the spectacular rise and fall of crypto exchange FTX and its disgraced leader, Sam Bankman-Fried. We dive into the ways its collapse mirrors the worst failures of more mainstream markets, how SBF was able to use effective altruism as cover for garden-variety political influence, and why it’s a mess that the House Agriculture Committee ended up regulating exchanges like FTX. Plus, writers Henrik Blix and Jay Jurden stop by to talk about living in a golden age of grifts and teach Jon about the Liver King’s dirty secret.

Season 2 is now streaming on Apple TV+.

CREDITS Hosted by: Jon Stewart

Featuring, in order of appearance: Henrik Blix, Jay Jurden, David Dayen

Executive Produced by Jon Stewart, Brinda Adhikari, James Dixon, Chris McShane, and Richard Plepler.

Lead Producer: Sophie Erickson

Producers: Zach Goldbaum, Caity Gray

Assoc. Producer: Andrea Betanzos

Sound Engineer & Editor: Miguel Carrascal

Senior Digital Producer: Freddie Morgan

Digital Producer: Cassie Murdoch

Digital Coordinator: Norma Hernandez

Supervising Producer: Lorrie Baranek