Former FTX chief executive Sam Bankman-Fried, currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for fraud, has renewed public praise for US President Donald Trump, adding to speculation he hopes to secure a pardon.
In a recent post on X, written through a proxy using prison-approved communications, Bankman-Fried supported Trump’s decision to launch strikes against Iran. He framed the move as necessary to counter nuclear risk and claimed the operation had severely reduced Iran’s military capabilities.
The comments mark his latest in a series of statements supporting the US president. In previous posts, he pointed to lower gas prices under Trump than in the Biden era and in other countries. He also credited Trump for “saving” the SEC by replacing former chairman Gary Gensler with Paul Atkins, arguing that the switch eased pressure on crypto firms and reduced conflicts between agencies.
The tone has attracted attention, seen in the light of Bankman-Fried’s legal position. Presidential pardons have historically extended to economic crimes, and Trump has shown a willingness to grant clemency in high-profile cases. Ross Ulbricht, who ran a digital black market platform called Silk Road, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2015 before Trump freed him shortly after being sworn in in 2025. For Bankman-Fried, whose conviction stemmed from one of the biggest financial collapses in crypto history, public alignment with the president can serve a clear purpose.
His scheme comes as the remnants of his former empire continue to unwind. Earlier this week, FTX Recovery Trust said it will distribute about $2.2 billion to creditors as part of an ongoing Chapter 11 process, pushing recovery rates close to full repayment for many classes of claims.
Still, the damage from FTX’s collapse runs deep. Millions of customers lost access to funds in 2022, and the event shook confidence in the crypto markets. Prices fell, companies failed, and regulators stepped in with tighter controls. The case remains a reference point for risk in the industry.
Bankman-Fried’s praise of Trump’s Iran policy comes as that decision faces mounting criticism, with some warning that the conflict could strain public finances and disrupt global oil supplies, as well as concerns about inflation and higher costs for households and businesses.
For now, Bankman-Fried remains behind bars and communicates through intermediaries while his former company repays creditors. His lawyers filed a motion for a new trial in February, which the government opposed. However, his public messages suggest he is trying to shape an outcome beyond the courtroom.
