FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried Asks Trump for Presidential Pardon

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has officially asked President Donald Trump to pardon him from his 25-year prison sentence.

## What Happened

Bankman-Fried, often called "SBF," was convicted in 2023 for fraud and conspiracy. He was found guilty of stealing billions of dollars from FTX customers' accounts. A pardon (official forgiveness that would free him from prison) would erase his conviction.

The request appeared Monday in U.S. Department of Justice records, showing his clemency petition (formal request for mercy) is now "pending" or under review.

## The FTX Collapse

FTX was once one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges (platforms where people buy and sell digital currencies like Bitcoin). The company collapsed in November 2022 when:

• Reports revealed an $8 billion hole in customer accounts • Customers rushed to withdraw their money • The exchange couldn't pay everyone back • Bankman-Fried was arrested for fraud (lying to steal money)

## Why Now?

In a recent FOX Business interview, Bankman-Fried confirmed he wants a pardon, saying "Absolutely" when asked. He's betting on Trump's history of pardoning other crypto figures, though the president has hinted he shouldn't expect clemency (mercy or leniency).

While his pardon request is reviewed, Bankman-Fried is also appealing his conviction through the courts, trying to overturn the guilty verdict through legal channels.

This is an AI-generated summary. Read the original article at: https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2026/06/08/sam-bankman-fried-officially-asks-donald-trump-for-a-presidential-pardon