Infinite Storm: The Rise and Fall Symphony of the FTX Empire
Back in that year, Michael Lewis had just completed a new book related to the pandemic and was in search of the protagonist for his next work. He wanted to find someone with a unique personality and a compelling story—like Billy Beane from “Moneyball,” Michael Burry from “The Big Short,” or Brad from “Flash Boys”—individuals who dared to go against the mainstream and forge their own paths.
At that moment, Brad called Michael to introduce him to a new friend. Michael learned that there was a popular platform in the cryptocurrency world called FTX, which had originated in Hong Kong, and its owner was named SBF. In his twenties, he had already become a billionaire, with some predicting he would be the first person on Earth to reach a trillion-dollar net worth.
However, like most of us, Michael had little understanding of cryptocurrency and had never heard of SBF. During their first meeting, he encountered a young man who took Uber, had messy hair, and wore shorts and a T-shirt, paired with loose white socks and worn-out New Balance shoes. There was an indescribable blend of intelligence and sincerity about him. After spending the afternoon walking and chatting, Michael immediately decided that his next book would be about SBF’s story. “This person is too special!” Michael remarked.
SBF told Michael that he was a follower of Peter Singer’s “effective altruism” and that he entered the financial world to make money. He aimed to amass “infinite” wealth to tackle “crises threatening human survival,” such as climate change and famine. Oh, and Trump—SBF considered him a threat to humanity as well, so he genuinely asked Trump how much he would need to withdraw from the election.
But at that time, Michael was unaware that a storm surrounding this young man was beginning to take shape. Just as Michael’s interview concluded and he pondered how to begin writing, the news broke:
FTX declared bankruptcy, affecting millions worldwide, with Taiwan being a disaster zone! SBF’s ideal of “infinite wealth” had transformed into an “infinite storm.”
It was at this moment that the media was surprised to discover that Michael was writing SBF’s story. Michael was already a bestselling author recognized in the financial community, with works ranging from “Liar’s Poker” and “The Fifth Risk” to “The Big Short” and “Moneyball,” all of which have been adapted into films and remain essential reading for finance novices today. Over the course of more than a year of interviews, Michael gained a rare opportunity to closely observe SBF, watching him amass over $20 billion in wealth at an unprecedented speed. When FTX collapsed and employees fled the Bahamas in panic, Michael was also there to witness the entire process. Everyone was eager to know how he would narrate the story of FTX, how he would evaluate SBF as a person, and how he would reinterpret this financial event.
Upon receiving the manuscript of “Infinite Storm,” I devoured the book in one sitting, much like binge-watching a series. Each story within revealed the inner workings of the so-called “crypto world,” along with the actions and words of its key figures (like Zhao Changpeng). Much like reading “The Big Short,” I saw Michael meticulously unraveling the complexities of crypto trading, effective altruism, bankruptcy proceedings, and the judicial system, interpreting one of the most bizarre cases in financial history.
Oh, and I never expected that this world-shocking case would start from the story of a Taiwanese girl named “Tian Wenxin”…
By Saturday, those investors who had spoken with SBF on Thursday were no longer receiving any responses.
“Maybe he threw away his phone,” speculated one insider.
“Michael Lewis has been flying around with him recently,” another added.
“Perhaps we’ll have to wait for his book to understand the full story.”
~ Reporter John Erlichman
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Selected as a Best Book of the Year by The New Yorker
Fortune’s Best Book of the Year in the Crypto World
★★★ Highly Recommended ★★★
– JC Financial Views Jenny Wang Yiren
– Senior Director at XREX Yu Zhiwei
– Professional Soccer Commentator Shi Mingjin / Zuo Ze
– Founder of Blockforce Xu Ming’en
– CEO of XREX Huang Yaowen
– Legislator, Digital Technology Expert Ge Rujun / Dr. Bao