Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years earlier this year for multiple fraud and money laundering charges. However, many consider the sentence lenient given the scale and impact of his crimes. The FTX collapse cost customers and creditors more than $16 billion and wiped out more than $100 billion in market value due to the “crypto winter.”
"Bankman-Fried and his associates want pardons or commutations in exchange for campaign funds stolen from FTX investors. Any president who agrees to this should be impeached for bribery," wrote prominent attorney Richard W. Painter.
Prosecutors initially sought 50 years in prison, arguing that Bankman-Fried's crimes were "historic" in scale and severity. They cited the massive financial losses to FTX customers and the erosion of trust in the cryptocurrency market.
Caroline Ellison, who received customer funds from FTX and Bankman-Fried, was sentenced to just two years in prison because she cooperated with prosecutors. Gary Wang, who wrote the code for Alameda's unlimited credit, avoided prison time.
Given these facts and criticism that the sentences are too lenient, crypto industry experts believe that Sam Bankman-Fried may be eligible for a pardon. However, it is important to note that the connection between donations and pardons is not always clear. Presidents may have other reasons for such a decision, and it is difficult to prove that donations were the sole or primary motive.#BtcNewHolder
