Trump says he won’t pardon Sam Bankman-Fried, despite CZ, Ulbricht clemency

Trump says he has no plans to pardon ex-FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, despite granting clemency to other crypto figures like CZ and Ross Ulbricht.

• Trump told The New York Times he does not plan to pardon former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, who is serving 25 years for fraud and conspiracy.​
• The comments contrast with Trump’s recent pardons of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao and Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht.​
• Bankman-Fried, a major Biden donor, remains active via X posts shared by an associate while he appeals his conviction.

President Donald Trump stated he has no plans to pardon former FTX chief executive Sam Bankman-Fried, dismissing speculation about clemency for the imprisoned cryptocurrency founder, according to an interview published by The New York Times.

Trump made the remarks during a two-hour interview that addressed foreign policy, domestic politics and several high-profile figures who have faced legal trouble, the newspaper reported. When asked about potential pardons, Trump included Bankman-Fried among a list of names but said he does not intend to grant relief to the former exchange executive.

Trump says he will not pardon FTX founder

Bankman-Fried was convicted in 2023 on multiple fraud and conspiracy counts tied to the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange. Prosecutors said he misused billions of dollars in customer funds. He is serving a 25-year prison sentence and is seeking to overturn the conviction on appeal.

The former executive has sought public attention over the past year through posts on X, shared by an associate and attributed to him. In December, he publicly praised Trump’s decision to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, suggesting clemency was warranted in that case, according to reports.

Trump’s comments come despite his recent willingness to pardon figures linked to the cryptocurrency sector. Since returning to office, he has issued pardons to former Binance chief Changpeng Zhao and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht.

Bankman-Fried was a major Democratic donor during the 2020 election cycle, contributing millions of dollars to support Joe Biden’s campaign against Trump, according to federal election records. During the interview, Trump defended his support for the cryptocurrency industry, even as his family’s digital asset ventures have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers debating new regulations, The New York Times reported.