FTX Founder SBF's Shocking Threats and Suicide Confessions: I'm Not Guilty, He Said! - Coin Bulletin

In a new interview from prison, Sam Bankman-Fried implied that he is innocent, hinted at seeking pardon from Trump, disclosed his political donations, and criticized US financial regulators harshly.

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), in a new interview from prison, implied that he was wrongly convicted, innocent, and hoping for a pardon from US President Donald Trump.

SBF, in an interview with Tucker Carlson, stated that he went through a difficult process in prison, that the suicide rates here are three times higher, and claimed that the US Department of Justice (DOJ), accused former FTX executive Ryan Salem of threatening his pregnant wife.

Political Amnesty Move from Bankman-Fried

After the collapse of FTX in November 2022, Bankman-Fried was accused of one of the biggest fraud cases in the crypto world and sentenced to 25 years in prison. However, the former CEO still claims that FTX did not actually go bankrupt, that the bankruptcy process was mishandled, and that the company could currently have $100 billion in assets.

These statements by SBF have been interpreted as part of efforts to seek pardon from the Trump administration. Bankman-Fried stated that as of 2022, he had donated not only to Democrats but also to Republicans, and that the donations were approximately equal. This is seen as his attempt to establish a connection with the Trump administration.

Critiquing the old order while defending crypto crimes

SBF continued to defend himself against the fraud and money laundering accusations that left many people in distress after the collapse of FTX. In his statement to Carlson, he mentioned that crime rates in the crypto world have decreased compared to the past, stating that Bitcoin's use for criminal purposes was more common in the early years of (BTC).

Bankman-Fried, who says “Silk Road” was used more for illegal transactions 10 years ago and claims that this situation has changed in recent years. However, this example was evaluated by linking it to Trump's pardon of Silk Road's founder Ross Ulbricht. It is believed that Bankman-Fried is also hoping for a similar pardon.

Sharp criticism for SEC Chairman Gensler

SBF not only targeted his own situation in the interview, but also took aim at U.S. financial regulators. He claimed that Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler abused his authority and had political ambitions.

SBF, who said 'Power. Everyone loves it. He is no exception,' claimed that Gensler aimed to appear frequently on CNBC to advance his political career and planned to become Treasury Secretary. However, before the collapse of FTX, it is known that Bankman-Fried personally tried to meet with Gensler, and even hired a former Gensler employee to facilitate these meetings.

It is expected that SBF will continue to stay in the media

At the end of the interview, Bankman-Fried stated that if not pardoned, he would be released from prison in his early 50s and that this process depended on the political balances in the USA. Despite stringent regulations imposed on the crypto industry after the collapse of FTX, SBF still argues that financial regulators unnecessarily suppress the crypto market.

Bankman-Fried's attempt to get closer to the Trump administration, criticize Democrats, and oppose regulators shows that he is still making efforts to be in the media spotlight and will give more interviews in the future. As a new political era begins in the United States after the 2024 elections, SBF's initiatives are closely followed in the crypto world.