It’s to stop him first - he won’t be running financial fraud schemes for 20-25 years

Then it’s to stop other bright minds from attempting anything like this - they’ll remember SBF. His crime has a price now: 20-25 years

It will also give the enablers of criminality pause. If the mastermind gets 20-25, they'll realize they are risking 2-5 year sentences with zero upside just for "following orders" or negligently turning a blind eye to malfeasance.

Just a quick reminder to any potential felons in finance/crypto/corporate settings. If you decide to rob billions from the public, we'll let you out in about a decade as long as you don't beat someone up in prison. Just make sure you hide your money well!

Sincerely

The American Legal System

Of the people stealing money in crypto the vast majority seem to get away with it for what it's worth.

So just slap his wrist and say no no?

I think of it like this: Many people would "happily" spend 5 years in prison for a more than probable chance to get filthy rich. That's a superset with, I imagine, significantly greater cardinality than the set of those willing to spend 25.

Obviously there is a sweet spot. For example, if you're okay with 60 years, than you're probably okay with 80. I'd imagine 20, give or take 5 years or so, is near that sweet spot, but that's just my gut feeling. Obviously statistics is key here, if there is any.

I think many people _say_ they will happily spend 5 years in prison but that is different than actually being faced with the actual possibility.

25 is a steep deterrance. Hard to know its effect since it'd hopefully deter some of the more heinous future financial crimes.