Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced a 25-year prison sentence for his role in the FTX fraud

One of the greatest financial crimes in U.S. history was committed by former cryptocurrency billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison Thursday.

In November, 32-year-old Bankman-Fried was found guilty of seven counts of fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, and commodities and securities fraud.

According to federal sentencing guidelines, Bankman-Fried could be sentenced to 110 years, but prosecutors wanted Judge Lewis Kaplan to sentence him to 40–50 years for a "historic fraud." Bankman-Fried's counsel were seeking a six-and-a-half-year sentence because he was unlikely to reoffend.

In court Thursday, Kaplan said the 25-year sentence showed "that this man may do something really horrible. The risk isn't minor." He said that it was "for the purpose of disabling him to the extent that can appropriately be done for a significant period of time."

Though Bankman-Fried is anticipated to appeal, veteran federal prosecutor Andrey Spektor said the verdict is unlikely to be overturned. Spektor stated, "There is nothing anyone can do about that," adding that Bankman-Fried could have received a longer sentence but "I don't think SBF and his family are celebrating a 25-year term."