Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman‑Fried (SBF) told Fox Business he would “absolutely” welcome a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.
Speaking by phone with anchor Susan Li from his federal prison cell, Bankman‑Fried confirmed he would accept clemency if it were offered. He declined to say whether his family is actively lobbying for a pardon, explaining he “can’t speak for them.”
Bankman‑Fried was sentenced in March 2024 to 25 years in prison following the collapse of the FTX exchange in November 2022. A jury found him guilty on multiple counts, including wire fraud and conspiracy. Court findings indicated extensive financial losses: FTX customers lost roughly $8 billion, outside investors lost about $1.7 billion, and creditors of Alameda Research, Bankman‑Fried’s affiliated trading firm, lost approximately $1.3 billion.
Despite his conviction, Bankman‑Fried has continued to dispute elements of the public narrative. In the Fox Business interview he reiterated that he did not steal customer funds and pointed to ongoing bankruptcy proceedings as evidence that some customers are recovering substantial amounts. He said that, following a rebound in certain crypto prices, some users have reportedly recovered more than their original deposits.
Bankman‑Fried estimated that some customers might have received up to 170% of their initial balances, arguing that those recoveries suggest the platform was effectively “over‑collateralized.” He presented these figures as part of his broader challenge to how the collapse and its aftermath have been characterized.
Markets reacted quickly to the interview. FTT, the native token of the FTX exchange, jumped in price after the remarks were broadcast. The token saw a daily gain of more than 50%, trading near $0.37—its highest level in almost a month at the time of reporting.
