- Zhu Su found prison life positive, emphasizing structure and community.
- Released early for good behavior; banned from finance activities.
- Post-prison, Zhu focuses on new crypto venture, OPNX.
While most find the idea of prison life daunting, Zhu Su seems to hold a different perspective.
Zhu, a co-founder of the now-inoperative cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, recently shared in a podcast with his co-founder, Kyle Davis, that his incarceration in Singapore was “an enjoyable experience overall”.
Arrested at Singapore’s Changi Airport in September 2023 due to a committal order linked to the collapse of Three Arrows Capital, Zhu’s time in custody became a topic of discussion. A committal order requires adherence to court orders within a set time, failing which can lead to imprisonment.
Initially sentenced to four months, Zhu’s good behavior led to a shift to house arrest in November 2023, and he was fully released on December 20, 2023.
Both Zhu and Davis faced a nine-year ban from engaging in regulated capital market activities by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in September.
During a podcast, clips of which were shared on X (previously known as Twitter) on January 22, Zhu reflected on his prison experience. He mentioned that while he wouldn’t strongly recommend it, experiencing it once could be beneficial. He emphasized the sense of structure and community found in prison, often lacking in the outside world.
In prison, Zhu occupied his time with extensive reading and exercise, noting the ample time for these activities. The absence of internet, alcohol, and caffeine was also a part of his experience. He mentioned receiving three meals a day and frequent fruit servings.
Zhu commented on his sleep quality in prison, attributing it to the strict lights-off policy from 9.30pm to 5.30 am. Despite sleeping on the floor, he found it beneficial for his spine, likening it to sleeping on a Japanese tatami mat.
“It’s a really magical feeling, you almost feel a kinship with your ancestors.”
Zhu Su, Co-founder Three Arrows Capital
He also spoke about forming deep connections with his cellmates, leading to a heightened sense of empathy. Zhu appreciated their candid advice, seeing him as an ordinary person.
Zhu’s statements sparked discussions online, with significant attention in Singapore, China, and the US. His interview clips have received over 13,400 engagements, according to Digimind, a social media monitoring tool.
Online reactions varied, with one user relating it to a liberating experience during Covid-19, while another found humor in Zhu’s outlook.
Post-release, Zhu has moved on from Three Arrows to focus on his new crypto exchange company, OPNX, based in Hong Kong, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Three Arrows Capital, once a leading crypto hedge fund, collapsed in June 2022 following failed leveraged investments.
