From his federal prison cell, former FTX boss Sam Bankman‑Fried told FOX Business he’s “absolutely” seeking a presidential pardon — and defended his role in the collapse of the crypto exchange.
In an exclusive phone interview with correspondent Susan Li, Bankman‑Fried said a pardon would be “ultimately up to the president,” and declined to comment on whether his family is lobbying the administration on his behalf: “I can’t speak for them,” he said.
Key facts and claims from the interview
- Sentencing and conviction: In March 2024 Bankman‑Fried was sentenced to 25 years after being found guilty on two counts of wire fraud and five counts of conspiracy related to FTX’s November 2022 collapse.
- Reported losses: Courts found that FTX customers lost roughly $8 billion; FTX equity investors lost $1.7 billion; and lenders to Alameda Research lost about $1.3 billion.
- His defense: Bankman‑Fried insisted he “didn’t steal user funds,” pointing to bankruptcy recoveries and a rebound in crypto markets that he says have returned roughly 170% to customer depositors. He argued the platform was “over‑collateralized” and that customers ultimately “were more than made whole,” calling the prosecution and the lengthy sentence a “great disservice” to those customers.
- Broader remarks: He said he regrets missing out on developments in artificial intelligence and praised Elon Musk and SpaceX’s potential, noting he would prefer to be building from the outside rather than “in here where there’s very little I can do.”
Why it matters for crypto audiences
Bankman‑Fried’s push for a pardon keeps one of the industry’s most explosive legal sagas in the public eye. His claims about customer restitution — tied to asset recoveries and market rebounds — are central to ongoing debates over accountability, exchange custody practices, and the fallout from one of crypto’s largest failures.
The interview aired on FOX Business; Suzanne O’Halloran contributed to the report.
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