The White House is weighing a list of 250 pardons to mark America's 250th birthday — and at least two prominent crypto figures are angling to make the cut. A developer of the crypto-mixing protocol Samourai Wallet has publicly expressed hope for a presidential pardon, while FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried is formally seeking one.
The 250-for-250 plan
Trump's team is considering a slate of clemency grants timed to the nation's semiquincentennial. The number is deliberate: 250 pardons for 250 years. The White House hasn't said who's on the preliminary list, but the process is moving ahead of the July 4 celebration.
Samourai Wallet developer speaks up
A developer behind Samourai Wallet, the Bitcoin mixing tool that drew scrutiny from regulators, went public this week with a request for a pardon. The developer didn't name a specific charge in their statement, but made clear they're hoping the White House includes them in the batch of 250. Samourai Wallet has been a lightning rod for debate over privacy versus enforcement in crypto.
Bankman-Fried's push for clemency
Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder of FTX, is also seeking a presidential pardon. His legal team has been working behind the scenes for months, people familiar with the matter told GFdaily. It's not clear whether his case has made it onto the shortlist — but the timing of the mass pardon offers a narrow window for a high-profile bid.
What happens next
The White House has not yet released the official list. A final decision is expected around July 4, 2026, when the pardons would be announced. For now, both the Samourai Wallet developer and Bankman-Fried are waiting — along with hundreds of other applicants — to see if they'll get a second chance.
