Sam Bankman-Fried in a stark prison interview room, looking directly at the camera.
Sam Bankman-Fried, the former cryptocurrency mogul convicted for fraud related to the collapse of FTX, has stated he would welcome a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, despite maintaining his innocence. In an exclusive interview from prison, Bankman-Fried told FOX Business that while he hasn’t lobbied the White House for clemency, he would “absolutely” accept a pardon if offered.
“It would be obviously, you know, ultimately up to the president, not up to me,” Bankman-Fried said when asked directly about his desire for a pardon. He clarified that he has not personally contacted the White House or anyone connected to the former president, and could not speak to whether his parents or others had done so on his behalf.
A pardon application filed on Bankman-Fried’s behalf has been reviewed by FOX Business, indicating that clemency is sought only after the completion of his current sentence. The White House, when approached for comment, referred FOX Business to President Trump’s prior statements, which suggested he was not considering a pardon for Bankman-Fried.
Despite his conviction, Bankman-Fried continues to assert his innocence and is currently appealing his case before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He stated, “I didn’t steal user funds.” He pointed to the fact that FTX customers have reportedly been repaid approximately 170% of their deposits, characterizing it as a rare instance where a platform was over-collateralized and customers were made whole.
However, context is crucial. Bankman-Fried was convicted in 2023 on seven counts, including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, for misusing billions in FTX customer funds. He was sentenced to 25 years in 2024. The FTX bankruptcy estate has reported customer recoveries of around 118% or more, but these calculations are based on cryptocurrency values from November 2022, a period of market lows. Customers received cash equivalent to these depressed values, rather than their original cryptocurrency holdings or the subsequent market rebound. The estate’s reported recovery figures are also lower than the 170% cited by Bankman-Fried.
“Ultimately, customers have been repaid again nearly twice what they had on the platform, and it’s a great disservice to them that it has taken three years,” he added.
The prospect of a pardon has divided opinions. Adam Moskowitz, an attorney representing FTX victims, indicated he would not oppose a pardon, noting Bankman-Fried was among the first defendants to offer assistance to victims. Conversely, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) has stated that Bankman-Fried “shouldn’t be pardoned” and deserves a lengthy prison sentence.
Bankman-Fried described his prison routine as consisting of reading, exercise, and other routine activities. He also mentioned receiving an unexpected nod from rapper Drake on his new album, “Iceman,” with lyrics interpreted by fans as a call for his release. Bankman-Fried expressed flattery and appreciation for the mention, though he noted he did not know Drake personally.
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