Judge bars FTX founder from contacting other firms

NEW YORK A U.S. judge has temporarily barred FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried from contacting current or former employees of the exchange or Alameda Research hedge fund, and from using encrypted messaging tools, including Signal.

The decision of U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan came after federal prosecutors in Manhattan said Bankman-Fried might tamper with witnesses or destroy evidence in his criminal fraud case. He was arrested in December on charges of looting billions of FTX customer funds and lying to investors and lenders.

Bankman-Fried, 30, is under house arrest at his parents' California home after pleading not guilty. His lawyers said last week that his attempts to contact the general counsel of an FTX affiliate and the company's current chief executive were attempts to offer assistance and not to interfere.

Kaplan wrote that the new restrictions on Bankman- Fried's conduct would be in place until at least February 7, when he would hold a hearing on both sides' arguments.