FTX’s internal performance coach is just as surprised as you are

For the past week, Dr. Lerner has taken a front row seat to the collapse of Mr. Bankman Fried’s empire. First, the dramatic collapse of FTX, which followed what was the equivalent of a bank run launched by a rival crypto exchange. then , detection about a multibillion-dollar deficit on FTX’s balance sheet, which is said to have arisen from funds diverted to Alameda Research, a crypto hedge fund closely associated with FTX, and Mysterious hack That left more than $500 million missing from FTX vaults. And now, many, many FTX customers, regulators, and law enforcement officials are outraged demanding to know what happened, and where all the money went.

Dr. Lerner declined to say whether he has spoken to Mr. Bankman-Fred since the bankruptcy. He said he was focused on helping FTX employees deal with what happened.

“I was kind of holding hands, making sure people got home safely,” he said.

In recent days, much has been said about FTX’s unusual corporate culture. The company, which had about 300 employees, was mainly run by 20 people, some of whom shared Mr. Bankmann-Fried’s interest in effective altruism. Some FTX employees lived together in a luxurious group home. Several of them were, or used to be, in romantic relationships with each other, including Mr. Bankman-Fred, who dated Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison.

Details about the romantic pairing Reported by CoinDesk Some rumors on Twitter last week led to FTX being described as “multi-block,” a term for a network of non-monogamous relationships.

But Dr. Lerner rejected that idea, saying the company’s culture was far from orgy.

“It’s a beautiful place,” said Dr. Lerner. “The adults, they played chess and board games mostly. There was no partying. They were deficient, if anything.”

Dr. Lerner, 46, described FTX as a company full of hard-working, minded young men who believe deeply in the company’s mission. He said many had moved to the Bahamas from major cities in the United States and Asia. Few of the staff went out at night or made local friends; He said they often spent long days and nights in the office.