SBF pardon efforts entered a formal stage after convicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried applied for presidential clemency from President Donald Trump while serving a federal prison sentence linked to the 2022 collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX and Alameda Research.
Bankman-Fried confirmed the move during an interview with FOX Business correspondent Susan Li. He said he absolutely wants clemency when asked about a possible White House pardon. The final decision will be up to the president, he added.
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SBF Pardon Filing Reaches Justice Department
The SBF pardon request was submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of the Pardon Attorney. The filing number for the clemency case is P338490. It reintroduces Bankman-Fried’s criminal case to the political and legal spotlight.
Bankman-Fried refused to disclose whether his parents or other family members are pushing the Trump administration. His family has been very visible since FTX has failed. He said he could not speak for them.
In March 2024, the former FTX chief was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment. A jury has found him guilty on wire fraud and conspiracy charges relating to the collapse of the exchange. The case resulted in significant losses to customers, investors, and lenders, prosecutors said.
Police claimed that about $8 billion was lost by FTX customers. Equity investors lost approximately $1.7 billion. About $1.3 billion was lost by the lenders to Alameda Research.
Bankman-Fried has yet to admit to the improper withdrawal of customer money. He said FTX customers have recovered about 170% of their claim values through bankruptcy proceedings and higher crypto prices. He claimed that the customers received almost twice as much money as they had on the platform.
Bankman-Fried Challenges Sentence in Pardon Push
His prosecution was also part of the SBF pardon campaign. Bankman-Fried called his sentence “a disservice to customers.” His comments show that he continues to contest the public account of the FTX collapse.
The interview was not limited to the criminal case. Bankman-Fried admitted that he missed the AI craze because of prison time. He also praised Elon Musk’s business record, including SpaceX and its growth prospects.
The SBF pardon issue coincides with a time when executive clemency is under intense public scrutiny. Other crypto-related personalities have been pardoned by Trump. However, earlier public comments in 2026 indicated that he had no plans to pardon Bankman-Fried.
Lawmakers and FTX sufferers will probably oppose any SBF pardon. The demise of the exchange is one of the most hurtful failures in crypto history. The case is also still influencing discussions about fraud, investor protection, and regulation of digital assets.
In January 2026, Trump announced that he would not grant Bankman-Fried clemency. He also dismissed the possibility of granting pardons to those who are closely associated with the FTX case. Still, the SBF pardon filing keeps the issue active through the formal Justice Department process.
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