Which Crypto Founders Are Seeking Pardons From President Trump?
By: decrypt|2025/05/11 14:45:07
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Which Crypto Founders Are Seeking Pardons From President Trump? President Donald Trump has already issued multiple crypto-related pardons, leading other industry icons to seek their own relief. In brief President Donald Trump has already granted pardons to notable crypto personalities. Some others are openly campaigning for their own, or purportedly seeking them through private channels. The growing list includes Binance founder Changpeng Zhao and reportedly also FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried. Decrypt’s Art, Fashion, and Entertainment Hub. President Donald Trump’s pro-crypto actions have ushered in a more favorable regulatory and enforcement regime for crypto. When campaigning for his second term, the President promised to pardon Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht , a vow he kept— granting a pardon to the Bitcoin icon in his first days in office, after more than a decade of imprisonment for charges of money laundering and conspiracy to traffic narcotics. Two months later, Trump also granted pardon to Arthur Hayes and his BitMEX co-founders Benjamin Delo and Samuel Reed—along with former BitMEX employee Gregory Dwyer, and even the company itself . Those pardons have given hope to other notable personalities from the crypto sphere, who are in some cases directly petitioning the President for a pardon. Here's the growing list of convicted crypto founders who are seeking relief from Trump. Changpeng "CZ" Zhao Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao said in an exclusive interview with Decrypt’s sister company Rug Radio that he had lawyers applying for a pardon. In the interview, Zhao dismissed claims that surfaced in early 2025 , alleging that he was looking to exchange Binance.US equity for a pardon after he completed his four-month prison sentence for money laundering violations . “There’s a lot of news articles saying I’m trying to exchange Binance.US equity for a pardon,” Zhao said. “That’s completely not true. I’ve had zero discussions about Binance.US equity with anyone.” Rather, Zhao said he is taking the legal path in search of a pardon, having lawyers apply for him a couple of weeks before his interview at Token2049 Dubai at the end of April. “If they’re writing these articles, we might as well officially apply, right?” he said, adding that he “certainly wouldn’t mind” receiving a pardon. Sam Bankman-Fried Imprisoned FTX co-founder and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, also known as SBF, is reported to be campaigning for a pardon from the president. SBF’s parents and Stanford Law Professors Joseph Bankman and Barabra Fried are said to be doing the legwork, according to the report from Bloomberg , consulting with those close to President Trump’s inner circles in the process. Decrypt reached out to SBF's legal team to clarify the reports on seeking a pardon, but did not immediately receive a response. The now disgraced crypto founder was charged with multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy and ultimately sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the collapse of FTX. He is appealing the verdict . Roger "Bitcoin Jesus" Ver In the most public display of those on this list, Roger “Bitcoin Jesus” Ver begged President Trump for a pardon in a video posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in January. An early investor in Bitcoin, a backer of a number of crypto firms, and co-founder of the Bitcoin Foundation, Ver faces jail time for charges of tax evasion with a federal indictment alleging he evaded paying taxes of nearly $50 million. Mr. President, I am an American, and I need your help. Only you, with your commitment to justice, can save me @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/WhVTZ1M1GB — Roger Ver (@rogerkver) January 26, 2025 But in Ver’s case, the situation is complicated, as he denounced his U.S. Citizenship, leading Elon Musk to suggest there would be “no pardon for Ver,” adding that “membership has its privileges.” Ver was arrested in 2024 and is currently fighting extradition to the United States while out on bail in Spain. In April 2025, he paid Trump confidant Roger Stone $600,000 to lobby on his behalf , most notably against the “exit tax” which is connected to his tax evasion charges. Joby Weeks Arguably less well-known than other names on this list, Jobadiah (or Joby) Weeks pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to offer and sell unregistered securities in 2020 in connection to BitClub, one of crypto’s most notable Ponzi schemes that ripped off investors to the tune of $722 million . BitClub famously lobbied for money from investors to buy mining equipment to generate notable Bitcoin returns, with the expectation that investors would receive a share of the mining profits. While Weeks did not directly mention a pardon, he did allude to it, telling Politico in March , “It would be great to have Trump step in.” Weeks also shifted his defense tactics when Trump took office, opting to represent himself while he seeks a dismissal of his case, per Politico . Edited by Andrew Hayward Daily Debrief Newsletter
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