SBF Seeks U.S. Presidential Pardon in Prison Interview, Denies Fund Misuse Despite 25-Year Sentence

According to BlockBeats, Sam Bankman-Fried said in a federal prison interview on June 8 that he hopes to receive a U.S. presidential pardon, stating "absolutely" when asked about this possibility but noting that the final decision rests with the president.

SBF denied misusing customer funds and claimed that FTX users have already received approximately 170% of their deposits in reimbursements as the crypto market has recovered. "Customers not only received full compensation but also gains exceeding their original deposits," he said, adding that he believes the prosecution against him is unjust. SBF was sentenced to 25 years in prison in March 2024 for fraud related to FTX's 2022 collapse, which resulted in approximately $8 billion in customer losses.