Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX who is currently serving a prison sentence, has formally applied to US President Trump for a presidential pardon. Records from the US Department of Justice's Office of Pardons show that the application is currently pending, meaning the process has begun.

The application is pending review.

Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison for fraud and conspiracy and is currently serving his sentence. This amnesty application and his criminal appeal are separate processes and will proceed independently.

FTX was once one of the world's largest cryptocurrency trading platforms. In November 2022, after issues surrounding the balance sheet of its affiliated trading firm Alameda Research came to light, FTX faced an approximately $8 billion funding gap, which triggered a mass withdrawal by users and led to the platform's rapid collapse.

I have recently made a public statement

In a recent telephone interview with FOX Business, Bankman-Fried publicly confirmed his desire for a White House pardon. He stated that the final decision rests with the president.

The report mentions that Bankman-Fried's parents had previously contacted people close to Trump in an attempt to garner his support. However, it remains unclear whether they had direct communication with White House officials.

Trump's stance remains unchanged.

Over the past few months, Bankman-Fried has made a series of public statements through prison-permitted communication channels that align with Trump's position, including supporting a U.S. strike against Iran and claiming that Trump's replacement of the SEC chairman would help "save" the agency.

The attention drawn to this application is also related to the fact that Trump has pardoned several prominent figures in the crypto industry since returning to the White House, including Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, and BitMEX co-founder.

However, in a January interview with The New York Times, Trump stated that Bankman-Fried should not expect a pardon. Currently, the pardon application is still under review, and his appeals process is ongoing.