The US is granting amnesty to 250 individuals in honor of the 250th anniversary of its independence. Will SBF be released from prison as well?
BlockBeats News, July 2nd. July 4th is Independence Day in the United States. This year marks the 250th anniversary of American independence. Internally, the White House is discussing a proposal for a "250th Anniversary Presidential Pardon for 250 Individuals." There is still debate within the White House advisory team as to whether this proposal holds any political advantage, and it remains uncertain whether it will ultimately be signed. However, the potential pardon opportunity has triggered intensive lobbying efforts by lawyers and intermediaries, with all parties hoping to secure forgiveness for their clients before any potential announcement.
The Atlantic Monthly revealed that key figure in the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB embezzlement case, Jho Low, has been included in the pardon list. The U.S. Department of Justice previously charged him with money laundering and conspiring to bribe foreign officials. Jho Low has denied any wrongdoing through a spokesperson and remains at large. Rapper Pras Michel, who was convicted in a lobbying scheme related to the 1MDB scandal, is also under consideration.
The most high-profile potential pardon recipient in the crypto space is undoubtedly FTX founder SBF. Following the FTX collapse in 2022, he was charged with multiple crimes including fraud and money laundering, sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2024, and is currently incarcerated. Shortly after his sentencing, SBF's family and team discreetly contacted associates of former President Trump for lobbying. In early 2025, his parents attempted to establish contact with Trump insiders through an intermediary. In March 2025, while in prison, SBF gave an interview to conservative media host Tucker Carlson as a gesture of goodwill. In June 2026, SBF formally submitted a request for a "post-conviction pardon" to the U.S. Department of Justice. Despite Trump publicly stating in early 2026 that he had no plans to pardon SBF, SBF and his team continue their efforts, hoping to turn the tide through the opportunity presented by the 250th anniversary of the U.S.'s founding.
Regarding this pardon proposal, White House officials responded that President Trump is the ultimate decision-maker for all pardons. Trump will take seriously the constitutional power granted for pardons and commutations, and all requests must undergo a rigorous review by the Department of Justice and the White House Office of Legal Counsel before being presented to the President.
Forecast market data shows fierce competition among potential pardon recipients of Trump. Former FTX executive Ryan Salame leads with a 54% probability as the "most likely person to be pardoned by Trump before 2027," while SBF has only a 1% chance of being pardoned before July 31st. The probability of Ghislaine Maxwell, a figure in the Epstein case, being pardoned by the end of 2026 is only 5%. Additionally, international figures such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo are also under discussion.
