Key Highlights
- Sam Bankman-Fried said he would “absolutely” welcome a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump.
- The former FTX CEO continues to dispute allegations that he intentionally stole customer funds.
- Bankman-Fried highlighted customer recoveries through bankruptcy proceedings while serving a 25-year prison sentence.
Inside a federal prison, convicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has officially applied for a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump.
In an exclusive interview with FOX Business correspondent Susan Li, Bankman-Fried stated he “absolutely” wants clemency. When asked directly if he would want a pardon from the White House, he replied affirmatively, adding that the decision ultimately rests with the president.
The FTX founder has filed for a presidential pardon with the Office of the Pardon Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice under clemency case number P338490.
Bankman-Fried declined to comment on whether his family, including his parents, is actively lobbying the Trump administration on his behalf. “I can’t speak for them,” he said.
Convicted to 25 years in prison
Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced in March 2024 to 25 years in prison after being convicted on multiple counts of wire fraud and conspiracy related to the 2022 collapse of FTX. Prosecutors alleged that FTX customers lost approximately $8 billion, equity investors lost $1.7 billion, and lenders to his Alameda Research hedge fund lost $1.3 billion.
Despite his conviction, Bankman-Fried continues to deny intentionally stealing customer funds. He highlighted that FTX customers have now recovered approximately 170% of their claim values due to cryptocurrency market gains and bankruptcy proceedings. “Customers have been repaid nearly twice what they had on the platform,” he told Li. He described the prosecution and lengthy sentence as “a great disservice” to customers.
FTX executive regrets missing AI boom
Bankman-Fried also expressed regret over missing the artificial intelligence boom while incarcerated. He praised Elon Musk’s business achievements, particularly with SpaceX, noting its significant potential and drawing parallels to companies positioned for major growth in emerging sectors.
The interview comes amid ongoing discussions about executive clemency under the Trump administration. While Trump has granted pardons to other figures in the crypto industry, public statements earlier in 2026 indicated he had no plans to pardon Bankman-Fried. Any potential pardon would likely face significant opposition from lawmakers and victims of the FTX collapse.
Bankman-Fried’s comments reflect his continued effort to present his narrative from prison. He has previously attempted to engage politically, including posting messages supportive of Trump and criticizing aspects of his prosecution.
Trump previously denied plans for pardon for Bankman-Fried
In January 2026, President Donald Trump stated that he would not grant a pardon to Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF). At the time, he confirmed that Bankman-Fried is among several high-profile individuals he has explicitly decided not to offer clemency.
Although various names were suggested to him for possible pardons, SBF was ruled out from the beginning. Trump made it clear he has no plans to pardon Bankman-Fried or anyone closely connected to the FTX case.
Uphill battle for clemency
Presidential pardons are rare for high-profile financial crimes of this magnitude and typically require extensive review. Bankman-Fried’s 25-year sentence, combined with an $11 billion forfeiture order, makes his bid for clemency an uphill battle.
The development has drawn mixed reactions in the crypto community, with some viewing it as an attempt at rehabilitation and others seeing it as insufficient accountability for the harm caused by FTX’s failure.
As of now, there has been no official response from the White House regarding Bankman-Fried’s latest public comments. His legal team and family have not issued additional statements following the interview. The case continues to highlight the intersection of cryptocurrency, politics, and justice in the post-FTX era.
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