Michael Lewis, the acclaimed author behind bestsellers like The Big Short and Moneyball, has done it again. His latest work, Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a Crypto Empire, is set to release in Chinese soon. The book offers a gripping, firsthand account of one of the most dramatic stories in modern finance—the stunning ascent and collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange and its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF).
This isn’t just a financial post-mortem. It’s a narrative rich with insight, tension, and real-world lessons about innovation, risk, and human behavior at the frontiers of technology.
Inside the FTX Saga
Lewis gained unprecedented access to SBF and his inner circle during FTX’s peak—a time when the company was valued at $32 billion and Bankman-Fried was hailed as a visionary. What emerged from this deep immersion is a story that reads like thriller fiction but carries the weight of documented history.
The book traces how SBF, a MIT graduate with a background in quantitative trading and a philosophical commitment to “effective altruism,” built a global crypto empire almost overnight. It also meticulously details the cultural, operational, and ethical flaws that led to its implosion.
Key Themes Explored
Lewis goes beyond the headlines to explore critical issues relevant to today’s tech and financial landscape:
- Innovation vs. Regulation: How groundbreaking fintech innovations can outpace oversight and governance.
- Corporate Culture and Leadership: The dangers of founder-centric management and diluted accountability.
- Moral Ambiguity: When lofty ideals like effective altruism clash with business realities and ethical boundaries.
- Global Finance in the Digital Age: The challenges of regulating decentralized and borderless financial systems.
Why This Book Matters
Going Infinite isn’t only about cryptocurrency. It’s about what happens when technology, ambition, and money converge at a scale and speed we’ve never seen before. For anyone interested in finance, technology, or leadership, this book serves as an essential cautionary tale.
The English edition quickly became a New York Times bestseller and was named a book of the year by publications like Fortune and The New Yorker. Its impact was so immediate that Apple TV+ acquired the film rights, ensuring the story will reach an even broader audience.
Chinese Edition: tailored for Local Readers
The Chinese version, published by Jieteng Culture, features translations by experts well-versed in both blockchain technology and financial markets. It also includes a special foreword by Du Ping, Founding Partner of Node Capital, adding regional perspective and professional commentary.
This careful localization ensures that the book isn’t just translated—it’s contextualized, making complex themes accessible and relevant to Chinese readers.
Zhou Zhonghua, Chairman of Jieteng Culture, emphasized the book’s timely significance:
“In an era of rapid technological change and financial uncertainty, Going Infinite offers a crucial lens through which to examine the interplay of innovation, risk, and responsibility.”
Who Should Read This Book?
- Investors and finance professionals looking to understand crypto markets and systemic risks.
- Tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs interested in startup culture and scale.
- Readers who enjoy narrative nonfiction with real-world stakes and deep reporting.
- Anyone curious about the future of digital assets and the ethics of technology.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Going Infinite about?
It’s a nonfiction book by Michael Lewis that chronicles the rapid rise and collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX and its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried. Based on exclusive access, it blends financial analysis with human drama.
Do I need to understand cryptocurrency to read this book?
Not at all. Lewis is known for making complex topics accessible. The book focuses on characters, decisions, and consequences—making it engaging even for those new to crypto.
What makes this book different from other accounts of the FTX crash?
Lewis was embedded with SBF before the collapse, giving him a unique vantage point. The book is built on firsthand observations and private moments not available to journalists after the fact.
Is the book only critical of SBF and FTX?
No. Lewis presents a balanced narrative that explains how and why things happened—including the idealism and innovation—without overlooking the fatal flaws in judgment and governance.
Will there be a movie adaptation?
Yes. Apple TV+ has secured the film rights, with a production likely to follow in the coming years.
Where can I find the Chinese version?
The book is being released by Jieteng Culture in collaboration with expert translators in the fintech field. It will be available through major book retailers in China.
Going Infinite is more than a story about a failed company. It is a mirror reflecting the broader tensions between ambition and integrity, innovation and regulation, and idealism and reality. As crypto continues to evolve, the lessons from FTX remain urgently relevant.
Whether you’re involved in crypto or not, this book offers a powerful look at what happens when infinite ambition meets finite oversight.