Summary
- Sam Bankman-Fried has submitted a pardon request to the Office of the Pardon Attorney.
- In a recent interview with Fox Business, he expressed that he would "absolutely" accept a pardon, despite the lengthy process.
- The FTX co-founder is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for his criminal activities.
Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of FTX, has officially requested a presidential pardon as per an update from the Office of the Pardon Attorney.
Convicted of fraud and conspiracy in 2024, Bankman-Fried is serving a 25-year prison sentence and is seeking a “pardon after completion of sentence.” This development was first highlighted by Bloomberg.
During a phone interview with Fox Business from prison last week, Bankman-Fried stated, “It would be obviously, you know, ultimately up to the president, not up to me,” while affirmatively stating that he would “absolutely” welcome a pardon from President Donald Trump.
He mentioned that he has not had direct communication with anyone at the White House, although he cannot confirm whether his family or close associates have reached out.
The application process for a pardon can extend over “months or years,” as indicated on the Office of the Pardon Attorney's official website. Specifics regarding his application remain private.
Bankman-Fried continues to assert his innocence, emphasizing to Fox Business that he “didn’t steal user funds,” highlighting that customers were fully repaid through the bankruptcy process, which he described as a “great disservice” that has lasted three years.
This year, the convicted fraudster has made several notable appeals for a pardon. In February, his activity on X (formerly Twitter) advocating for the Clarity Act—a proposed legislation for the crypto market—caught the attention of both Democratic and Republican senators. Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis responded with skepticism, implying that “someone’s looking for a pardon” and asserting that his support was unwelcome.
While President Trump has previously dismissed the idea of pardoning Bankman-Fried, he has granted clemency to other notable figures in the crypto space, including Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht and BitMex co-founder Arthur Hayes, among others.
Bankman-Fried has served just over two years of his sentence and is expected to remain incarcerated for at least 21.25 years, according to analysts who spoke with Decrypt during his sentencing.
A spokesperson from the Office of Pardon Attorney has confirmed that individuals seeking a “pardon after completion of sentence” must first complete their full term.