The recent federal courthouse activities in Manhattan featured more than just Sam Bankman-Fried’s criminal fraud trial. There was a long wait line to get in. The trial attracted a diverse group of reporters, crypto enthusiasts, documentary makers, and aspiring influencers eager to see Mr. Bankman-Fried in person. But with only 21 public seats in the 26th-floor courtroom, the competition for access turned into an arms race, with some people going to extreme lengths to secure a seat. A dedicated trial watcher even flew from London to New York overnight just to ensure they got a seat to see Mr. Bankman-Fried testify.

I stood in this line every day of the trial. Surprisingly, it was kind of enjoyable. The gossip flowed, and the vibes were great. To maintain order, a sign-in sheet called “the list” was set up to record the waiting order of people. Those who didn’t make it to the first 21 were sent to overflow rooms with individual TV monitors. While the list system initially received positive feedback, there was almost a revolt one morning as someone accused the list manager of allowing non-eligible people to sign in.

On Mr. Bankman-Fried’s final day of cross-examination, I arrived at the courthouse before 1 a.m. to secure my spot. No other crowds arrived until much later, but when I finally took my seat in the courtroom with a clear view of the witness stand, I realized that the wait was worth it.