TLDR
Sam Bankman-Fried praised Trump’s pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández on social media.
He is seeking a presidential pardon while appealing his 25-year fraud sentence.
His parents are reportedly supporting clemency efforts behind the scenes.
The appeal is with the Second Circuit, and a ruling is expected in 2026.
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried issued a public statement through social media on Tuesday after reports confirmed that former U.S. President Donald Trump had pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras.
“I’m so glad Juan Orlando is free—few are more deserving than him,” Bankman-Fried wrote in a post shared via a friend on X. Hernández had been convicted of drug trafficking charges and was sentenced to 45 years before receiving a presidential pardon.
The remarks drew attention due to Bankman-Fried’s current efforts to secure a presidential pardon for himself. He is serving a 25-year sentence for fraud and conspiracy related to the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange in 2022.
Ongoing Legal Appeal and Clemency Strategy
Sam Bankman-Fried’s case is currently under review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, where his legal team is seeking a retrial. The court has not yet issued an opinion, and a decision is not expected until sometime in 2026.
Despite the ongoing appeal, Bankman-Fried is also seeking a presidential pardon. His efforts have faced challenges due to his past political contributions. In 2020, he donated $5.2 million to support President Joe Biden’s campaign, complicating any effort to secure clemency under a Trump administration.
In a prior post, Bankman-Fried described Hernández as “one of the kindest and most dedicated people I’ve met,” suggesting a personal connection that may be part of a broader messaging strategy.
Family Support and Broader Political Context
Sam Bankman-Fried’s parents, Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, have also reportedly supported efforts to secure clemency. Their involvement follows recent pardon discussions in the crypto industry, such as the one granted to former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao.
While Bankman-Fried’s legal team argues that FTX was solvent before its collapse, investigators and liquidators have concluded otherwise. His statements frequently assert that funds are being mishandled by the estate now overseeing FTX’s bankruptcy proceedings.
Despite renewed visibility, legal observers say a pardon remains unlikely. The scale of customer losses and the case’s profile in both political and legal arenas present major obstacles.
Public Messaging Strategy via Social Media
Bankman-Fried has grown more active online in recent months, posting through an intermediary to defend his record.
He regularly claims that FTX held enough assets to meet withdrawal requests before filing for bankruptcy and accuses estate managers of withholding or misrepresenting fund allocations.
This communication strategy appears designed to shape public opinion, particularly as his appeal progresses. His recent comments linking Hernández’s pardon to his own case signal an attempt to stay visible in political and legal conversations.
