FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried Has Formally Filed for a Pardon From President Trump

Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, formally filed for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump on December 10, 2024. This action comes despite President Trump previously stating he would not pardon Bankman-Fried. Bankman-Fried was convicted in November 2023 on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy related to the collapse of FTX, which lost billions of dollars in customer funds. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison in March 2024. The pardon request is a significant development in the aftermath of one of the largest financial frauds in recent history, involving over $8 billion in missing customer assets. Bankman-Fried's legal team has pursued various avenues following his conviction, including appeals, but the pardon request represents a direct appeal to the former president.