Since late 2025, there have been different reports regarding how Trump granted amnesty to individuals who were already sentenced to prison terms. A good number of those who were freed in 2025 are those tied to cryptocurrency and blockchain.
For instance, in January 2025, he pardoned the founder of Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht; he also simultaneously pardoned Arthur Hayes, BitMex founder, as well as Benjamin Delo, Samuel Reed, and others that were tied to the exchange. Today, despite Sam Bankman-Fried’s guilty plea, the President of the United States of America has rejected amnesty for him.
More Details on Trump’s Interview with the New York Times
According to the interview report shared by the New York Times, U.S. President Donald Trump shared with the journalists that he has no plans to intervene in the criminal case of Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of the now collapsed crypto exchange FTX.
During the interview he made it very clear that Bankman-Fried’s 25-year prison sentence will remain in place and he will not be granted amnesty. His comment to the New York Times journalists put an end, at least for now, to the long-running speculation on whether or not Bankman-Fried would receive a pardon due to how much Trump has shown a friendly stance toward the crypto industry. For a long time now, the Sam Bankman-Fried case has been a long-standing one in the crypto space since he was convicted.
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During the same interview, Trump also responded to questions the journalist asked about his personal and family links to the whole crypto market. He rejected all the claims that his family ties create conflicts of interest. Instead, he admitted that his pro-crypto position has helped him politically, and also he said that over time, he has become more supportive of the industry.
Sam Bankman, on the other hand, has since his conviction been trying to improve his chances of receiving a pardon. He reportedly highlighted his ‘supposed’ ties with some Republicans and also appeared in interviews with conservative media figures, including Tucker Carlson
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