- SBF formally seeks Trump pardon despite earlier White House resistance.
- Pardon filing adds momentum to ongoing efforts to challenge conviction.
- Appeals and clemency push continue as creditors await repayments.
Former FTX chief Sam Bankman-Fried has formally asked President Donald Trump for a presidential pardon, despite earlier remarks suggesting the request faces steep resistance. The filing marks another chapter in the disgraced crypto executive’s effort to overturn public and political opinion after his fraud conviction shook the digital asset industry. Moreover, the move arrives as Bankman-Fried continues appealing his conviction while serving a lengthy prison sentence tied to the collapse of FTX.
Records from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney now show that Bankman-Fried submitted an application for a “pardon after completion of sentence.” The filing adds formal weight to months of public attempts to gain favor with Trump and his allies.
Bankman-Fried, now 34, received a 25-year prison sentence after prosecutors secured convictions on fraud and conspiracy charges in 2023. Authorities accused him of misusing billions in customer deposits tied to FTX and its affiliated trading firm. Consequently, the downfall triggered one of crypto’s largest financial scandals and intensified calls for stronger oversight across the sector.
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Trump Signals Resistance
Trump previously addressed the possibility of granting clemency to Bankman-Fried earlier this year. During a January interview with The New York Times, Trump indicated he had no intention of issuing a pardon to the former executive. Additionally, White House officials reportedly directed recent media inquiries back to those earlier comments rather than offering a new response.
Even so, Bankman-Fried has continued public outreach efforts. Over recent months, he used social platform X to praise several Trump decisions and policy positions. He also commented favorably on Trump’s pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.
Political observers believe the strategy aims to reframe Bankman-Fried’s public image around criminal justice reform and executive clemency. However, skepticism remains high among both lawmakers and crypto investors affected by the FTX collapse.
Appeals Process Continues
Besides pursuing a pardon, Bankman-Fried continues challenging his conviction through the appeals process. His legal team argues that trial procedures and evidence rulings unfairly shaped the outcome of the case. Federal prosecutors, however, maintain that the evidence against him remained overwhelming throughout the proceedings.
Bankman-Fried currently serves his sentence at a low-security federal correctional facility in Santa Barbara, California, according to Bureau of Prisons records. Meanwhile, former FTX customers and creditors still await additional repayment distributions linked to the bankruptcy estate.
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