Caroline Ellison, Former Alameda CEO, Scheduled for Release in January 2026

Mark your calendars—January 2026 is shaping up to be a month of reckoning for the crypto world.

The Countdown Begins

A key figure from the FTX collapse is set to walk free. Caroline Ellison, who once helmed the trading giant Alameda Research, has a release date locked in. The timeline puts her return to the public sphere just over a year from now.

Legacy of a Collapse

Her scheduled release doesn't erase the past—it punctuates it. The fallout from 2022's monumental crypto crash left a trail of scorched portfolios and shattered trust. Ellison's journey from CEO to convict to a woman with a future date is a stark timeline for an industry that moves at light speed but grapples with long shadows.

What Comes Next?

The real question isn't about her freedom—it's about the market's memory. Will January 2026 bring closure or just re-open old wounds? In finance, they say time heals all wounds, but in crypto, it mostly just makes the next cycle more interesting.

One cynical finance jab for the road: In traditional finance, they get golden parachutes. In crypto, you sometimes just get a date with a parole officer.

Ellison Pleaded Guilty in FTX Collapse That Wiped Out Billions

Ellison pleaded guilty in December 2022 to fraud and conspiracy charges connected to the collapse of FTX, the crypto exchange founded by Sam Bankman-Fried.

The failure of FTX triggered billions of dollars in customer losses and marked one of the most significant scandals in the history of the digital asset industry.

As part of her plea agreement, Ellison cooperated extensively with federal prosecutors and served as a key witness during Bankman-Fried’s criminal trial.

Her testimony detailed how Alameda and FTX commingled customer funds and concealed financial shortfalls, evidence that contributed to Bankman-Fried’s conviction on multiple counts of fraud. He was later sentenced to 25 years in prison.

US District Judge Lewis Kaplan sentenced Ellison in September 2024, ordering her to forfeit $11 billion and serve a two-year prison term beginning in November of that year.

JUST IN:

Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, is scheduled to be released from federal custody on January 21, 2026 pic.twitter.com/WkStCGH8E4

The earlier-than-expected release appears to reflect good-conduct credits and her cooperation with investigators.

In a filing submitted ahead of sentencing, John J. RAY III, the CEO overseeing the FTX bankruptcy estate, said Ellison provided “valuable assistance” that helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars in assets for creditors.

Those efforts played a role in ongoing attempts to return funds to customers affected by the collapse.

Earlier this month, Ellison also agreed to a 10-year ban on serving as an officer or director of public companies or cryptocurrency exchanges.

Following her release, she will remain under supervised release, limiting her future involvement in regulated financial businesses.

Bankman-Fried Seeks Trump Clemency, Claims FTX Case Was Politically Motivated

Meanwhile, Bankman-Fried continues to pursue post-conviction relief. He is seeking clemency from US President Donald Trump, who has previously issued high-profile crypto-related pardons, including for former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao.

Bankman-Fried has argued that his prosecution was politically motivated, a claim prosecutors have rejected.

According to Bureau of Prisons records, Bankman-Fried is currently scheduled for release in September 2044, underscoring the stark contrast in outcomes between the two former executives.