Crypto: US Lawmakers Warn Against Trump Pardon for Bankman-Fried
The Sam Bankman-Fried case continues to shake the crypto world. A few days ago, the former crypto billionaire submitted a presidential pardon request to the Trump administration. In response, two senators who are members of the Senate Banking Committee filed a formal resolution opposing any presidential pardon for the founder of FTX.
In brief
- Republican and Democratic senators oppose any pardon for Sam Bankman-Fried.
- The founder of FTX has officially requested a presidential pardon.
- The case could influence the crypto sector’s image with the general public and regulators.
An unexpected political alliance shaking the crypto market
Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis and Democratic Senator Rubén Gallego officially filed a joint resolution on June 17, 2026. Their goal: to demand that no executive clemency be granted to the founder of the crypto exchange FTX, whether a pardon or a commutation of sentence.
The text states that the 25-year sentence imposed on SBF reflects the extraordinary scale and deliberation of his crimes. For these lawmakers, yielding to his request would amount to erasing his crimes and weakening judicial deterrence. This would send a disastrous signal about the impunity of large-scale financial crimes.
A staunch crypto advocate, Senator Lummis was clear. Her office wants SBF to know he is exactly where he belongs. Gallego, for his part, did not mince words:
He showed no remorse. He should stay in prison.
A pardon request reigniting tensions
On June 8, Sam Bankman-Fried officially submitted a request to the US Department of Justice’s Office of Presidential Pardons. The request concerns a pardon after sentence completion, not immediate release.
This move comes after several months of speculation about possible lobbying efforts on behalf of the founder of the crypto exchange FTX. SBF’s argument is based on a precedent: Trump has already pardoned several figures from the crypto sphere. Notably mentioned are Changpeng Zhao of Binance and Ross Ulbricht of Silk Road.
The situation of the fallen crypto king is, however, different. The fact is his fraud cost billions to millions of individual users. And Trump himself stated in January 2026 that he had no plans to pardon him. Beyond Bankman-Fried’s personal case, this matter touches on the crypto sector’s credibility with regulators and investors.
In any case, the message sent by Capitol Hill to the crypto industry is clear: the SBF case remains the red line not to be crossed. The question remains whether Donald Trump will maintain his firm stance in the face of growing pressure from his own camp.
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My name is Ariela, and I am 31 years old. I have been working in the field of web writing for 7 years now. I only discovered trading and cryptocurrency a few years ago, but it is a universe that greatly interests me. The topics covered on the platform allow me to learn more. A singer in my spare time, I also cultivate a great passion for music and reading (and animals!)
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.