Trump Draws a Hard Line on Sam Bankman-Fried Pardon Talk

President Donald Trump has made it clear that Sam Bankman-Fried should not expect relief from his prison sentence, shutting down speculation that the former FTX CEO could be considered for a presidential pardon. In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times, Trump said he has no intention of intervening on behalf of the disgraced crypto executive.

The conversation, which stretched for roughly two hours, touched on foreign policy, domestic politics, and a slate of controversial figures who have either received or sought clemency. Among the names discussed were Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Bankman-Fried. When it came to the former crypto billionaire, Trump’s answer was unambiguous.

Bankman-Fried was found guilty in 2023 on multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy related to the collapse of FTX, once one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges. Prosecutors said he misappropriated billions of dollars in customer funds, a case that ended with a 25-year prison sentence. While he is pursuing an appeal, his prospects for executive clemency appear remote.

Over the past year, Bankman-Fried has attempted to reinsert himself into public discourse through posts on X, published via an intermediary. In one instance, he publicly applauded Trump for granting a pardon to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, a move some viewed as an indirect appeal for similar treatment. Political history may also weigh against him: Bankman-Fried was a major donor to Democratic causes in 2020, contributing millions to efforts opposing Trump’s reelection at the time.

Trump’s rejection of a pardon comes even as he continues to position himself as a strong ally of the crypto industry. He pointed to electoral support from digital asset enthusiasts and defended his administration’s pro-crypto posture, despite criticism surrounding his family’s business interests in the sector. Those ventures include World Liberty Financial, a DeFi and stablecoin project tied to the Trump family, and a significant stake in a U.S.-based bitcoin mining operation.

“I backed crypto, and people backed me,” Trump told the Times, underscoring a distinction he appears keen to maintain: support for the industry does not extend to forgiveness for one of its most notorious figures.