FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried has formally applied for a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump, according to records from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney.
Bankman-Fried is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2024 on fraud and money laundering charges linked to the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX. Bloomberg first reported the filing.
Since beginning his second term, Trump has issued hundreds of pardons and clemency grants. While many were connected to individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, a notable portion involved people convicted of financial crimes.
An NBC News analysis found that more than half of Trump’s individual pardons during his current term have gone to people convicted of white-collar offences, including bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.
The request has attracted attention because many recipients of Trump pardons reportedly did not use the formal Justice Department process. It remains unclear whether Bankman-Fried’s application will be considered or when a decision could be made.
