Trump says he won’t pardon Sam Bankman-Fried, despite CZ, Ulbricht clemency
Trump says he has no plans to pardon ex-FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, despite granting clemency to other crypto figures like CZ and Ross Ulbricht.
- Trump told The New York Times he does not plan to pardon former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, who is serving 25 years for fraud and conspiracy.
- The comments contrast with Trump’s recent pardons of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao and Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht.
- Bankman-Fried, a major Biden donor, remains active via X posts shared by an associate while he appeals his conviction.
President Donald Trump stated he has no plans to pardon former FTX chief executive Sam Bankman-Fried, dismissing speculation about clemency for the imprisoned cryptocurrency founder, according to an interview published by The New York Times.
Trump made the remarks during a two-hour interview that addressed foreign policy, domestic politics and several high-profile figures who have faced legal trouble, the newspaper reported. When asked about potential pardons, Trump included Bankman-Fried among a list of names but said he does not intend to grant relief to the former exchange executive.
Trump says he will not pardon FTX founder
Bankman-Fried was convicted in 2023 on multiple fraud and conspiracy counts tied to the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange. Prosecutors said he misused billions of dollars in customer funds. He is serving a 25-year prison sentence and is seeking to overturn the conviction on appeal.
The former executive has sought public attention over the past year through posts on X, shared by an associate and attributed to him. In December, he publicly praised Trump’s decision to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, suggesting clemency was warranted in that case, according to reports.
Trump’s comments come despite his recent willingness to pardon figures linked to the cryptocurrency sector. Since returning to office, he has issued pardons to former Binance chief Changpeng Zhao and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht.
Bankman-Fried was a major Democratic donor during the 2020 election cycle, contributing millions of dollars to support Joe Biden’s campaign against Trump, according to federal election records. During the interview, Trump defended his support for the cryptocurrency industry, even as his family’s digital asset ventures have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers debating new regulations, The New York Times reported.
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
You may also like
Nifty 50 Is Still Down 4.91% in 2026, So Why Does Citi See 13% Upside?
US Dollar Index: Fed path and CPI focus – Deutsche Bank
VIPMidterm Elections Conclude, Anthropic Initiates IPO
1. Cross-asset performance diverged this week. Between the October 30 and November 6 closes, the S&P 500 fell 2.68%, the Nasdaq 100 dropped 4.91%, and BTC lost 1.88%. Gold and silver rose 4.51% and 5.79%, respectively, while the Hang Seng gained 5.10%. Sharp declines in crude oil and some Asian equity indexes showed how differently assets responded to growth, policy, and event risks. 2. Democrats won majorities in both chambers of Congress in the US midterm elections, and markets rallied before reversing. We focus on actual changes in fiscal negotiations, key committee arrangements, and local industrial policy, especially data-center approvals, energy costs, and the pace of capital expenditure. We do not map party outcomes directly to asset direction. 3. The pullback in technology stocks has put returns on AI investment under renewed scrutiny. Whether rapid growth can cover financing, construction, and ongoing compute costs is becoming a key valuation test. For related positions, monitor policy implementation, customer capital expenditure, and cash collection together, and do not read a one-day rebound as a sign that the pressure has passed. 4. Anthropic's IPO preparations are putting the growth quality, operating profitability, and funding needs of AI model companies under public-market scrutiny. Valuations discussed for the offering are not final pricing, and participating in related products also requires assessing fees, allocation methods, asset rights, and trading restrictions. Assets in focus: BTC, the Nasdaq 100, crude oil, and gold, along with key earnings from companies including CSCO, AMAT, and CEG
Asian Stocks Rebound, Nikkei Up 3.4%, but Can They Lead Wall Street?
Crypto prices
More
