He stole $11 billion from his customers.
He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
And this week — he formally asked Donald Trump to set him free.
This is the most talked-about story in all of crypto right now.
✦ On June 8, 2026 — just 3 days ago — Sam Bankman-Fried formally submitted a presidential pardon application to the US Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney, requesting a "pardon after completion of sentence" (InvestingHaven)
✦ Trump already pardoned CZ of Binance in October 2025, pardoned BitMEX co-founders in March 2025, and pardoned Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht in January 2025 — SBF is now betting the same door is open for him (InvestingHaven)
✦ Trump has publicly rejected pardoning SBF twice in 2026 — telling The New York Times in January he had "no intention" of granting clemency, citing the scale of the $11 billion FTX fraud (InvestingHaven)
✦ SBF confirmed the pardon request in a FOX Business interview from prison — saying "Absolutely, it would be obviously up to the president, not up to me" when asked if he wanted a pardon (CoinMarketCap)
✦ SBF was convicted on 7 felony counts in November 2023 and sentenced to 25 years with an $11 billion forfeiture order — prosecutors described FTX as one of the largest financial frauds in US history (InvestingHaven)
✦ SBF's pardon request specifically seeks restoration of civil rights after completing his sentence — not early release — meaning he would still serve his full 25-year term if the pardon is granted in its current form (InvestingHaven)
Trump freed CZ. Trump freed Ross Ulbricht. Trump freed the BitMEX founders.
The man who stole $11 billion from ordinary crypto users is now asking to be next.
Do you think Sam Bankman-Fried deserves a presidential pardon — or should he serve every single day of his 25-year sentence?