Trump Denies Pardon for Bankman-Fried Amid Crypto Industry Ties
Former President Donald TRUMP has explicitly ruled out pardoning Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced FTX founder now serving a 25-year prison sentence for fraud. The declaration came during a New York Times interview where Trump also dismissed clemency for other high-profile figures including Sean Combs and Robert Menendez.
Trump's comments spotlight his evolving stance on cryptocurrency. 'I got a lot of votes because I backed crypto, and I got to like it,' he remarked, alluding to his campaign's embrace of digital assets. His business ties—including links to Bitcoin mining firm American Bitcoin and stablecoin operator World Liberty Financial—add complexity to his political positioning.
The FTX case continues to reverberate through crypto markets. Bankman-Fried's sentencing in March 2024 followed convictions on seven felony counts related to mishandling customer funds. Two former executives, Caroline Ellison and Ryan Salame, received reduced sentences after cooperating with prosecutors.