Sam Bankman-Fried, the former crypto mogul serving a 25-year sentence for defrauding FTX customers, said in a Fox Business interview that he “absolutely” wants a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. The jailed founder maintains he didn't steal user funds — and pointed to the recent crypto price rebound that let some customers claw back more than they lost.
Inside the interview
Asked point-blank on Fox Business whether he'd accept a pardon from the former president, Bankman-Fried didn't hedge: “Absolutely.” But when pressed on whether his family is lobbying for one, he shut it down: “I can't speak for them.” The interview marks his first extended public remarks since being sentenced in March 2024.
The case against him
Bankman-Fried was convicted on multiple counts including wire fraud and conspiracy. The collapse of FTX in November 2022 wiped out roughly $8 billion in customer funds, $1.7 billion from investors, and $1.3 billion from Alameda Research lenders. Prosecutors painted him as the architect of a massive fraud. He's spent the months since trying to reshape that narrative from a prison cell.
Token jump
The market didn't wait for legal clarity. FTT, the exchange's native token, surged over 50% the day the interview aired, climbing to around $0.37 — its highest in nearly a month. The move shows that even after the conviction, some traders still crave a turnaround story.
No pardon roadmap yet
There's no indication Trump has shown interest in the case, and no public lobbying effort from the Bankman-Fried family has emerged. But the request alone adds another layer of political intrigue to one of crypto's ugliest scandals. For now, Bankman-Fried remains in federal custody, still fighting the official story.
