Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has considered launching his own token after being released from prison, according to New York Magazine, citing his cellmates and acquaintances.
When former inmate David Bunevacz asked SBF about his plans post-release, he replied that making “serious money” would require between $50 million and $100 million. The businessman mentioned a potential cryptocurrency project that “everyone would flock to.”
“Maybe he was joking, and probably no one will flock to him. But who knows,” Bunevacz added.
According to journalists, Bankman-Fried takes medication daily for clinical depression and ADHD, and is writing a memoir titled “Manfred.”
Of the 25-year sentence, SBF has served only two years. NYM noted that he and his family are actively seeking early release or a reduced sentence.
However, on June 12, an appeals court rejected Bankman-Fried’s request to review the trial and overturn the FTX-related verdict. Earlier, on June 8, it was reported that he had officially appealed to Donald Trump for a presidential pardon.
The parents of the former head of the collapsed crypto exchange also hired Republican consultants Brian Lanza and Kory Langhofer to lobby for his release.
Journalists report that as part of the campaign, Bankman-Fried tried to build an image as a Trump supporter. In 2025, he organized an unauthorized video interview with Tucker Carlson from prison, which briefly landed him in solitary confinement.
Later, he resumed activity on X through an intermediary—his father, Joseph Bankman—and began posting pro-Trump messages, calling himself a victim of the Biden administration’s crypto policies.
Barbara Fried is also advocating for her son’s release. According to New York Magazine, the judge in the case demanded she stop excessive calls to his office. Prosecutors stated that one of the petitions, allegedly sent by Bankman-Fried from prison, was delivered via FedEx from an area near his mother’s home.
In late October 2025, Bankman-Fried claimed FTX was solvent at the time of its collapse. He stated that its assets were $25 billion, while liabilities were $13 billion.
