Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) is considering launching his own cryptocurrency after his release from prison. This was reported by New York Magazine, citing fellow inmates and acquaintances of the entrepreneur.
When ex-inmate David Boonivatz asked SBF about his plans post-release, he mentioned that making serious money would require between $50 million and $100 million. The businessman hinted at a potential cryptocurrency project that "everyone will flock to."
"He might have been joking, and probably no one will flock to him. But who knows?" Boonivatz added.
According to reports, Bankman-Fried takes medication daily for clinical depression and ADHD, and is writing a memoir titled "Manfred."
Of the 25 years sentenced, SBF has only served two years in prison. NYM noted that he and his family are actively seeking early release or a sentence reduction.
However, on June 12, the appellate court denied Bankman-Fried's request to review the trial and overturn the FTX verdict. Earlier, on June 8, it was revealed that he had officially appealed to Donald Trump for a presidential pardon.
The parents of the former head of the collapsed crypto exchange have also hired Republican consultants Brian Lanza and Cory Langhofer to lobby for his release.
Journalists report that as part of his campaign, Bankman-Fried attempted to cultivate an image as a Trump supporter. In 2025, he organized an unauthorized video interview with Tucker Carlson from prison, which led to a brief stint in solitary confinement.
Later, he resumed activity on X through an intermediary—his father, Joseph Bankman—and began posting pro-Trump messages, claiming to be a victim of the cryptocurrency policies of the Biden administration.
Barbara Fried is also advocating for her son's release. According to New York Magazine, the judge in the case has ordered her to stop excessive calls to his office. Prosecutors stated that one of the motions allegedly sent by Bankman-Fried from prison was delivered via FedEx from an area near his mother's home.
It is worth noting that at the end of October 2025, Bankman-Fried claimed that FTX was solvent at the time of its collapse. He stated that its assets were $25 billion, while its liabilities were $13 billion.