Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried seeks President Trump’s pardon 

• Sam Bankman-Fried claimed that his trial was politicized, and the prosecutor was biased. 
• Some crypto community members were against SBF getting a pardon. 

Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), former CEO of the defunct FTX crypto exchange, claimed that the bankruptcy was mishandled and is hopeful of a possible pardon. 

In a recent interview with The New York Sun, from prison, he claimed,  

“There were enough assets to pay everyone back in-kind, in full, in November 2022…If these debtors hadn’t stepped in, customers wouldn’t have waited two and a half years to get their money.”

SBF appeal resolution

He added that the FTX situation in November 2022 was a liquidity crisis, and should not have ended into bankruptcy.

When asked what’s next for him in the next few months, he remained hopeful of a successful appeal despite the odds against him. 

“The resolution of my appeal with oral argument in the next 3-6 months. I feel cautiously optimistic, but the odds are always against me. I’m hopeful that I get judges who are open to a critical and careful look at what happened.’ 

A court sentenced the former executive to 25 years for fraud and money laundering. He claimed that the case was ‘politicized’ and that his team didn’t have enough time to defend him.

“The Trump camp has seen biased judges in terms of prosecutorial abuse and politicization of the DoJ over the last decade and speeding up recently. My trial is part of the picture.”

He added that the Joe Biden Administration and the Democrats, which he supported, were ‘destructive’ to the crypto industry while the Republican Party was ‘far more reasonable.’

Some view SBF’s perceived alignment with President Donald Trump and the Republican Party as a way to seek a pardon.

A recent Bloomberg reported that his parents had contacted the president’s inner circle for his clemency push. 

It remains unclear whether the President will pardon SBF. However, some community members were against such a move. Crypto trader Pierre claimed that traders would leave the sector if he’s released. 

“If they free him, we’re never coming back.” 

Another market commentator, Adam Cochran, also maintained that SBF shouldn’t be pardoned. 

“I think we have to buy billboards all over DC with SBF’s pro-Biden posts, just to ensure he is never pardoned. This is an issue we can all agree on.” 

Meanwhile, the FTX estate has repaid the first batch of claims worth $50K or below and plans to clear larger claims from the 30th of May.