Sam Bankman-Fried Speaks From Prison Ahead Of 33rd Birthday Following 25-Year Sentence

Disgraced former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for misusing customer funds, has spoken out in a rare interview ahead of his 33rd birthday.

In a conversation with right-wing political commentator Tucker Carlson on 5 March 2025, Bankman-Fried shared details about his prison life, his views on cryptocurrency regulation, and his shifting political perspectives.

Although Carlson did not directly ask whether Bankman-Fried expected a pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump, the former FTX chief appeared to align himself with certain Republican viewpoints.

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Bankman-Fried Claims Equal Donations to Both Democrats and Republicans

Bankman-Fried, who was previously known as a major Democratic donor—including contributions to President Joe Biden’s campaign—claimed he had contributed similar amounts to Republican politicians.

“I had as good a relationship, probably better, with Republicans in D.C. as with Democrats by that point in time, although that wasn’t what the public thought,” he said, reflecting on the fallout from FTX’s collapse in late 2022.

FTX, once a leading cryptocurrency exchange, filed for bankruptcy in November 2022 due to a liquidity crisis. The exchange’s downfall triggered criminal charges against Bankman-Fried and four key executives.

While several former FTX figures, including Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison and FTX Digital Markets co-CEO Ryan Salame, have been sentenced, Bankman-Fried remains the most high-profile figure tied to the scandal.

Sam Bankman-Fried is doing 25 years behind bars, and is now sharing a cell block with Diddy. He joins us from prison for an update on his new life.

(0:00) What Has Prison Been Like?
(2:28) Was SBF Ever on Adderall?
(4:42) SBF Meeting Diddy in Prison
(7:01) How Prison Has Changed… pic.twitter.com/mNSNktLibg

— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) March 6, 2025

During the interview, Bankman-Fried maintained his innocence, stating, “I don’t think I was a criminal.” He also criticized the prosecution of Salame, arguing that his former colleague was charged with “totally bogus crimes,” potentially due to his political affiliations as a Republican.

Since his conviction in 2024, Bankman-Fried has granted interviews primarily to conservative media outlets, including the New York Sun, fueling speculation that he may be seeking favor with Trump and Republican lawmakers.

Reports have also suggested that his parents are exploring the possibility of securing a presidential pardon from Trump, who was elected in November 2024.

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Bankman-Fried Describes Prison as Harsh

Bankman-Fried is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he awaits the outcome of his appeal. He described prison life as harsh, mentioning that he mostly eats rice and beans and has not received visits from any former FTX employees.

“Anyone who was close to me ended up with a gun to their head, being told they had two options, and one of them involved decades in prison,” he claimed.

With most FTX-related legal proceedings wrapping up, Bankman-Fried remains one of the last key figures awaiting final judgment. Former engineering director Nishad Singh and co-founder Gary Wang received lenient sentences, while Ellison was sentenced to two years in prison.

Salame, who was sentenced to seven and a half years, is set to be joined in court by his wife, Michelle Bond, who faces campaign finance charges in 2025.

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