"Startled from a deathbed illness," SBF desperately flatters Trump for pardon but gets rejected

marsbitPublicado a 2026-02-25Actualizado a 2026-02-25

Resumen

Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the convicted cryptocurrency fraudster and former major donor to the Democratic Party, has recently adopted a pro-Trump and MAGA-aligned rhetoric in a series of social media posts. Despite being sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, SBF has been actively praising Donald Trump and criticizing what he calls the "Deep State" and partisan bias in the judiciary, explicitly naming the judge who sentenced him. His apparent goal is to seek a presidential pardon from Trump, who has previously pardoned high-profile financial criminals, including Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ). However, the Trump administration has reiterated that he has no intention of pardoning SBF, along with several other notable prisoners. SBF, once a prominent supporter of progressive causes, began shifting toward conservative alignment after the collapse of FTX, even planning to appear on Tucker Carlson’s show as a Republican. Despite his efforts, his history as a top Biden donor and his notorious reputation in crypto make a pardon highly unlikely. SBF continues to appeal and maintains an active, conservatively-focused social media presence through approved prison communication channels.

Author: Fortune

Compiled by: Felix, PANews

Convicted cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) was once a major donor to the Democratic Party, but his recent public statements have taken on a distinct "MAGA" (Make America Great Again) tone. In a recent manifesto posted on platform X, he wrote: "Judge Lewis Kaplan, appointed by Clinton, showed no restraint in his political bias when sentencing me. I admire President Donald Trump because he dares to stand up to this 'partisan, out-of-control radical'!"

This is just one of dozens of tweets SBF has posted in recent weeks, filled with attacks on the "Deep State" and other MAGA villains. Despite being one of the most notorious financial criminals of the century, currently serving a 25-year sentence in federal prison, he remains active.

Although SBF has not explicitly stated it, the purpose of his social media frenzy is obvious: to persuade President Donald Trump to rescue him from prison. Given that Trump has pardoned several high-profile individuals convicted of financial crimes, including SBF's former rival, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), this strategy seems logical.

However, for SBF, his plea for Trump's mercy appears futile. In response to recent social media advocacy, a White House spokesperson reiterated to Fortune magazine that Trump has no intention of pardoning SBF.

In an email, the spokesperson referenced Trump's remarks in January of this year, when the president explicitly stated that he did not plan to pardon SBF or several other high-profile prisoners, including former New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez and ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The spokesperson wrote: "The president is the final arbiter of all pardon matters."

SBF's lawyers did not respond to the matter.

Failed Attempt

SBF has long been a supporter of progressive causes, and his parents, both law professors at Stanford University, wield considerable influence among top Democrats. However, when SBF's fraudulent crypto empire collapsed in November 2022, the founder began planning a shift to the right. During the trial, a private document revealed that SBF planned to appear on conservative TV host Tucker Carlson's show and "come out as a Republican."

On the surface, this strategy seemed reasonable, especially in the current political climate. Trump is set to take office in January 2025 and has promised to roll back the Biden administration's crackdown on cryptocurrencies. Under Trump's leadership, regulators have withdrawn key lawsuits against blockchain companies, and the Department of Justice has shifted its approach to cryptocurrency enforcement.

However, Washington insiders say SBF's status as a top donor to Biden, combined with his continued notoriety in the crypto industry, made his pardon plea a long shot from the start. Even his unauthorized appearance on Tucker Carlson's show last year (which reportedly landed him in solitary confinement) failed to turn the tide.

Despite the slim chances, SBF has not given up. He is still appealing his conviction in federal appellate court. His X account is filled with posts promoting his newly adopted conservative identity, which critics have dubbed a "puppet account." (In his bio, SBF clarifies that he communicates content to agents via Bureau of Prisons-approved phones and emails for posting.)

A recent post read: "Democrats love to censor 'misinformation' on social media," followed by praise for Trump's campaign platform. "Truth Social and GETTR have always put free speech first."

Related reading: SBF's first prison interview: I was targeted by the DOJ for donating to the Republican Party, begging President Trump's pardon

Preguntas relacionadas

QWhat is the main reason SBF (Sam Bankman-Fried) is trying to align himself with MAGA and Donald Trump?

ASBF is attempting to seek a pardon from Donald Trump by publicly supporting him and criticizing his opponents, hoping for a commutation of his 25-year prison sentence for cryptocurrency fraud.

QHow did the White House respond to SBF's recent efforts to gain support from Trump?

AA White House spokesperson reiterated to Fortune magazine that Trump has no intention of pardoning SBF, referencing Trump's earlier statements in January where he explicitly stated he would not pardon SBF and other high-profile prisoners.

QWhat was SBF's political affiliation before his legal troubles, and how did it change?

ASBF was previously a major donor to the Democratic Party and supported progressive causes. However, after the collapse of his crypto empire in November 2022, he began shifting to the right, planning to appear as a Republican on conservative media.

QWhat strategy did SBF use to promote his new conservative identity while in prison?

ASBF used his X (formerly Twitter) account, managed by an approved intermediary through prison-approved phone and email, to post numerous messages criticizing the 'Deep State' and praising Trump, in an effort to build conservative support.

QWhy is SBF's attempt to gain a pardon from Trump considered unlikely to succeed?

ASBF's past as a top donor to Biden, his notorious reputation in the crypto industry, and the explicit rejection from Trump's camp make his pardon plea highly unlikely, despite his efforts to align with conservative causes.

Lecturas Relacionadas

The Impossible Trilemma Is Basically a Pseudo-Problem

The article argues that the core limitation of blockchain technology is not the scalability trilemma, but its fundamental lack of privacy, which acts as a barrier to institutional capital. It defines blockchain as a slow, expensive, shared computer whose primary value is "permissionlessness" (no administrator) and verifiable trust. While this is ideal for native financial assets like stable币, which now process trillions, two critical flaws remain for mainstream adoption: regulatory legitimacy and a default transparency that leaks all financial activity. The author contends that transparency is not a feature but a tax, quantified through MEV extraction, making the public ledger unusable for serious institutions. However, modern cryptography, specifically zero-knowledge proofs, now offers a solution: "provable privacy." This allows users to prove compliance (e.g., solvency, KYC) without revealing underlying data. This fusion of privacy and auditability resolves the transparency-compliant privacy-compliance dichotomy, enabling a purely upgraded system where transactions are verified but not broadcasted. Closing these flaws is presented as the essential bridge to onboard the next wave of trillions in capital.

marsbitHace 2 hora(s)

The Impossible Trilemma Is Basically a Pseudo-Problem

marsbitHace 2 hora(s)

The "Impossible Triad" Is Fundamentally a Pseudo-Problem

The article argues that blockchain's fundamental limitation is not the scalability trilemma (decentralization, scalability, security), which has been largely solved, but the lack of **privacy** and, until recently, clear **legitimacy**. Blockchain is described as a slow, expensive, globally shared computer whose core value is censorship resistance and verifiability. While ideal for native digital assets like money (e.g., stablecoins), its default transparency acts as a **tax**, exposing all transactions and enabling MEV extraction, which deters serious institutional capital. Simultaneously, its permissionless nature created regulatory ambiguity. The piece contends that **privacy** is the missing critical feature. It rejects the false choice between total transparency and complete anonymity. Modern cryptography (like zero-knowledge proofs) enables **compliant privacy**: users can prove facts (solvency, KYC status, compliance) without revealing the underlying sensitive data (specific holdings, identities). This preserves auditability for regulators and eliminates the leak of financial information. With recent regulatory progress (e.g., the GENIUS Act) addressing legitimacy, adding default, provably compliant privacy becomes a pure upgrade. It transforms blockchain from a costly, public ledger into a confidential settlement layer, finally bridging the gap to mainstream institutional and individual adoption of on-chain finance.

链捕手Hace 2 hora(s)

The "Impossible Triad" Is Fundamentally a Pseudo-Problem

链捕手Hace 2 hora(s)

Optical Chips: Collective Capacity Expansion

The global optical chip industry is experiencing a massive wave of expansion driven by surging AI data center demand. Major players across the US, Japan, Europe, and China are aggressively investing to ramp up production capacity. In the US, Coherent is expanding its 6-inch Indium Phosphide (InP) semiconductor fab in Texas, supported by CHIPS Act funding and a $2 billion strategic investment from NVIDIA. Lumentum is building a new factory for InP optical devices, and Nokia is scaling its advanced photonic chip packaging and testing capabilities. NVIDIA's investments aim to secure future supply of critical lasers and optical interconnect products for AI infrastructure. Japan's JX Advanced Metals, a leading InP substrate supplier, plans a multi-billion yen investment to increase its capacity 7-10 times, strengthening its grip on the crucial upstream materials market. In Europe, IQE and Tower Semiconductor settled a patent dispute and signed a multi-year InP epitaxial wafer supply agreement, highlighting that next-generation silicon photonics platforms will integrate high-performance InP components. STMicroelectronics and Sivers Semiconductors are also expanding silicon photonics production and partnerships. China is rapidly building out its domestic supply chain. Dongshan Precision's subsidiary, Source Photonics, announced a $12 billion project to expand optical chip and module production. Companies like Sanan Optoelectronics and Yunnan Germanium are scaling up InP chip manufacturing and substrate production, moving towards vertical integration from materials to modules. While debate continues around the exact future architecture—whether CPO (Co-Packaged Optics), NPO, or pluggables will dominate—analysts like Morgan Stanley argue the underlying driver is unchangeable: the explosive growth in bandwidth demand. This will inevitably increase the volume of optical engines, lasers, and related content per GPU, regardless of the final technical path. The competition for "more light" in the AI era has intensified into a global, full-chain capacity race.

marsbitHace 5 hora(s)

Optical Chips: Collective Capacity Expansion

marsbitHace 5 hora(s)

Stablecoins Finally Find Real Yield: An In-Depth Look at On-Chain Reinsurance Re | A Conversation with Re Founder Karan Saroya

Stablecoin Real Yield Found: A Deep Dive into On-Chain Reinsurance with Re's Karan Saroya As stablecoin supply exceeds $170 billion, the search for sustainable, non-speculative yield intensifies. Re, an on-chain reinsurance platform, provides an answer: connecting stablecoin capital to the trillion-dollar traditional reinsurance market. Re operates as a regulated reinsurer, accepting stablecoin deposits as collateral to back US insurance companies. These insurers pay premiums, generating yield that flows back to on-chain depositors. Currently supporting 35 insurers and underwriting $500 million, Re projects scaling to over $1 billion soon. Key insights from a Bankless podcast with founder Karan Saroya and investor Avichal of Electric Capital: 1. **Uncorrelated, Real-World Yield:** Re offers stablecoin holders access to reinsurance returns (targeting 12-14%+), an asset class entirely separate from crypto or equity markets. 2. **Operational Efficiency via Smart Contracts:** Re replaces traditional, labor-intensive capital fundraising with smart contracts, allowing a ~12-person team to compete with industry giants. 3. **Regulatory Leverage:** For every $1 of collateral, regulations allow backing $5-7 in written premiums. This leverage amplifies returns from the underlying risk-free rate. 4. **DeFi Integration:** Depositors receive receipt tokens, which can be used in protocols like Morpho for "looping," potentially pushing yields to 18-20%+. 5. **The "DeFi Mullet" Model:** A compliant front-end (regulated reinsurer) paired with a decentralized back-end (smart contracts, DeFi capital markets). 6. **RE Governance Token:** Modeled on Lloyd's of London, the token governs the central capital pool's allocation, counterparty acceptance, and parameters. 7. **Real Economic Impact:** Capital funds real-world productivity (factories, clinics, businesses) via insurance, moving beyond crypto's internal loops. The discussion highlights a pivotal moment: DeFi's supply-side infrastructure is now met by real demand for productive yield, potentially kickstarting a flywheel where vast on-chain stablecoin capital seeks these real-world returns.

链捕手Hace 6 hora(s)

Stablecoins Finally Find Real Yield: An In-Depth Look at On-Chain Reinsurance Re | A Conversation with Re Founder Karan Saroya

链捕手Hace 6 hora(s)

1996 or 1999? Walsh's First Test is 'How to View AI'

"1996 or 1999? Wall's First Big Test Is 'How to View AI'" Federal Reserve Chairman Wall's initial challenge is not whether to raise or cut rates, but a more fundamental judgment: what kind of boom is the current AI boom? This will determine the Fed's policy path and define his legacy. Economics is split between two opposing views, according to reporter Nick Timiraos. One sees imminent productivity gains that will increase supply and cool inflation, allowing the Fed to hold steady. The other argues that while productivity benefits are distant, demand shocks are here now, and waiting for data confirmation risks missing the intervention window, forcing sharper rate hikes later. Wall has signaled a leaning toward the first view, echoing 1996-era Alan Greenspan, who embraced strong, productivity-driven growth without fear of inflation. However, Wall faces a different macro environment than Greenspan did, with tariff pressures, expanding fiscal deficits, and diminishing globalization benefits, which could force more significant inflation pressures even if AI benefits materialize. Wall's logic, expressed before taking office, is that AI-driven productivity gains won't show in official data for years. If the Fed waits for confirmation, it might mistakenly tighten policy and choke off the very growth that could suppress inflation. This argues for using forward-looking narratives over lagging data. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee presents a key counter-argument. He distinguishes between expected and unexpected productivity booms. A widely anticipated boom, like the current AI wave, can cause people to spend future wealth gains in advance, overheating the economy before productivity actually rises, thus requiring preemptive rate hikes. He cites rising costs for AI data centers as evidence of such overheating. Fed Governor Christopher Waller offers a rebuttal to Goolsbee, noting the "expected spending" mechanism only works if people can borrow against future income, which many households cannot do due to borrowing constraints. Wall also faces a paradox related to his desire to reduce the Fed's use of "forward guidance" (pre-announcing policy moves). This practice was established in 1999 when Greenspan began signaling hikes to avoid market shocks. If the economy follows a less optimistic path, Wall may be forced to choose between using the guidance he wants to abolish or risking market volatility by staying silent. The ultimate question defining Wall's first major test remains: Is this 1996 or 1999?

marsbitHace 7 hora(s)

1996 or 1999? Walsh's First Test is 'How to View AI'

marsbitHace 7 hora(s)

Trading

Spot

Futuros