Sam Bankman Fried Warms Up to Trump: Will He Be Pardoned?

Sam Bankman-Fried’s recent public praise for Donald Trump has reignited debate across political and crypto circles. As speculation swirls around a possible presidential pardon, many are asking the same question: will Sam Bankman-Fried be pardoned after warming up to Trump?

The answer, at least for now, appears clearer than the rumors suggest.

Key Takeaways

• Trump has explicitly stated he will not pardon Sam Bankman-Fried

• SBF’s political shift has fueled speculation but lacks official backing

• Trump’s past crypto pardons do not extend to the former FTX CEO

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Trump and the Sam Bankman-Fried Pardon Speculation

Source: freepik.com

The Sam Bankman-Fried Trump connection became a trending topic after the imprisoned former FTX CEO publicly praised Trump’s stance on cryptocurrency while criticizing the Biden administration. His comments on X marked a noticeable shift in political alignment, sparking Trump crypto pardon speculation across social media and prediction markets.

Despite the buzz, President Donald Trump shut down those hopes directly.

In an interview with The New York Times published on January 9, 2026, Trump stated that he will not pardon Sam Bankman-Fried, who is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for fraud related to the FTX collapse. The president emphasized that he had no intention of using his clemency powers to rescue the disgraced crypto executive.

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Trump’s Stance on Crypto Legal Cases

Trump’s refusal stands out because of his history. During his presidency, Trump granted pardons to several high-profile crypto figures, including former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, and BitMEX co-founders. This track record strengthened beliefs about Trump influence on crypto legal cases.

However, Trump made it clear that those precedents do not apply universally.

During the same interview, Trump grouped Bankman-Fried with other figures he refused to pardon, including former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro. The message was unambiguous: Sam Bankman-Fried prison pardon news remains negative.

Political Rehabilitation Efforts Fall Short

In recent months, Bankman-Fried embarked on what many observers described as a Republican-friendly media rehabilitation tour. His parents, both former Stanford Law School professors, reportedly engaged lawyers and figures connected to Trump’s inner circle in pursuit of clemency.

Still, there is no evidence that these efforts reached Trump directly—or that they influenced his stance. According to Trump, Bankman-Fried never personally made his case.

This disconnect weakens claims of meaningful Sam Bankman-Fried political ties to Trump’s administration or advisors.

Market Reaction and Crypto Sentiment

Despite intense online speculation, the crypto market showed little reaction to Bankman-Fried’s statements. Bitcoin remained relatively stable, trading at $75,852.59 with a market capitalization of $1.52 trillion and a dominance rate of 58.43%.

Analysts note that while political commentary can shape sentiment, concrete regulatory or legal outcomes matter far more. For now, Sam Bankman-Fried Trump connection discussions have not translated into measurable market shifts.

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Conclusion

While Sam Bankman-Fried’s praise of Trump reignited speculation, the reality is far less dramatic. Trump has publicly and clearly rejected any possibility of a pardon, placing Bankman-Fried outside the scope of his previous crypto clemency decisions.

Until there is a formal reversal—which currently appears unlikely—the question “will Sam Bankman-Fried be pardoned?” has a straightforward answer: not under Trump’s stated position.

FAQ

Is Sam Bankman-Fried eligible for a presidential pardon?

Legally yes, but Trump has publicly stated he will not grant one.

Why did Sam Bankman-Fried praise Trump?

He criticized Biden’s crypto policies and aligned himself with Trump’s pro-crypto stance.

Has Trump pardoned crypto figures before?

Yes, including CZ Zhao, Ross Ulbricht, and BitMEX co-founders.

Did SBF directly request a pardon from Trump?

Trump indicated that Bankman-Fried never personally made his case.

Is the crypto market reacting to this speculation?

No significant market movement has been observed so far.

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