The Fallen King of Cryptocurrencies Bets Everything on Trump: Sam Bankman-Fried (FTX) Requests a Pardon

Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange platform FTX, has submitted a formal request for presidential pardon to the President of the United States, Donald Trump. The information emerges from the records of the Office of the Pardon Attorney of the U.S. Department of Justice, where the application is currently under review. The former crypto entrepreneur is serving a federal sentence of 25 years in prison, imposed after being found guilty of a series of offenses related to the management of FTX and the affiliated trading company Alameda Research. According to the prosecution, billions of dollars belonging to clients were improperly used to cover losses, make investments, and support other financial activities.

The available documents indicate that the request was filed during 2026 as a request for "pardon after serving the sentence," a particular form of pardon that, if granted, would not reduce the ongoing prison sentence but would result in legal forgiveness of the convictions once the entire period of incarceration has been completed. Instead, Bankman-Fried did not request a commutation of the sentence, a measure that could shorten the duration of his detention.

This move comes about two years after the beginning of the sentence and aligns with the legal path already initiated by the former CEO of FTX. Bankman-Fried continues to assert his innocence and is pursuing an appeal against the sentence imposed on him.

The FTX case represents one of the most significant scandals in the recent history of the cryptocurrency sector. The platform, which until 2022 was among the most used exchanges in the world with millions of users, suddenly collapsed after serious irregularities in the management of client funds came to light. The company's failure significantly shook investors' confidence in the entire crypto sector.

Despite the application being formally filed, the prospects of eventual approval appear uncertain. In an interview earlier this year, Trump stated that he had no intention of granting pardons to several high-profile figures, including Bankman-Fried himself. During his second term, the president nonetheless signed over 1,400 actions, including pardons and commutations, including numerous cases that were particularly controversial on a political and media level. The White House has refused to comment on the matter, while there have been no official statements from either Bankman-Fried's lawyers or his representatives.