FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried seeks presidential pardon

Sam Bankman-Fried, the imprisoned founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has formally applied for a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump. The clemency petition was listed as pending on Monday, June 8, 2026, in records maintained by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney. The 34-year-old is currently serving a 25-year sentence at a low-security federal correctional facility in Santa Barbara, California, following his 2023 conviction on multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy.

The formal request follows months of public statements from Bankman-Fried aligning with the president's positions and comes as the White House is reportedly considering a slate of pardons to mark the nation's 250th anniversary. However, the application faces significant political resistance. In a January interview, President Trump stated he had no plans to pardon the former executive, a position a White House spokesperson reaffirmed this week when asked about the new filing.

Bankman-Fried confirmed his desire for clemency in a recent phone interview, stating he "absolutely" hopes to receive a pardon while acknowledging the decision rests solely with the...