From Jail Cell to Life Lessons: Why Su Zhu Says Prison Was a 'Reset'

The Backstory

Su Zhu, co-founder of the once-prominent hedge fund Three Arrows Capital (3AC), recently made headlines by sharing an unconventional take on his four-month incarceration in Singapore. Handed a jail sentence in September by Singapore courts for failing to comply with a court order, Zhu was required to serve the time while liquidators worked to recover approximately $1.3 billion owed to creditors—a figure that represents part of the $3.3 billion in total outstanding liabilities.

An Unexpected Silver Lining

Rather than presenting his prison stint as purely negative, Zhu offered a refreshingly candid perspective during a recent podcast appearance. He described the experience as surprisingly positive, even suggesting that everyone should go through it at least once. “I think it’s an enjoyable experience overall,” he remarked, painting a picture that starkly contrasts with typical prison narratives.

The Daily Routine That Changed His Sleep

What caught many listeners’ attention was Zhu’s detailed account of prison life’s simple structure. He highlighted the basic but effective daily rhythm: lights out at 9:30 PM and lights back on at 5:30 AM. This rigid schedule, combined with the prison’s minimal distractions, resulted in what he called “the best sleep of my life.”

The 3AC co-founder noted that the facility provided ample reading material and space for physical exercise—amenities he took full advantage of. “You can read all the books you want. You can do all the pushups you want,” he explained, adding that the austere conditions, particularly the basic mats instead of conventional beds, created an unexpected sense of connection to ancestral ways of living.

Simplicity as a Feature, Not a Bug

Zhu’s reflection on prison entertainment revealed how the absence of modern distractions and technological complexity brought him closer to a more “natural state.” He compared the prison experience to activities from ancient times, suggesting that the enforced simplicity had unexpected psychological benefits. The structured environment seemed to have offered him clarity and rest that his high-pressure lifestyle outside had not provided.

Why This Matters

The contrast between Zhu’s surprisingly positive prison assessment and the broader context of 3AC’s collapse—which sent shockwaves through the crypto market and left creditors facing massive losses—adds another layer of intrigue. His ability to find meaning and rejuvenation in adversity speaks to either genuine philosophical resilience or a remarkable ability to reframe hardship.

Market Context

At the time of writing, Bitcoin (BTC) was trading at $87.60K, down 2.53% in the last 24 hours, reflecting the ongoing volatility in the cryptocurrency sector that Three Arrows Capital had significantly impacted during its operational peak.

Zhu’s willingness to publicly discuss his incarceration in such positive terms is unusual among high-profile figures in the crypto space, marking yet another distinctive chapter in the saga of 3AC’s dramatic fall.