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▲ Donald Trump, Bitcoin (BTC), Cryptocurrency Regulation/AI Generated Image
As U.S. President Donald Trump considers a large-scale pardon card to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, key legal figures in the cryptocurrency industry, including those from FTX and early Bitcoin proponents, have once again entered the political pardon watch.
BeInCrypto reported on May 13 (local time) that the White House is considering approximately 250 presidential pardons to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States on July 4, 2026. While the plan is still in its preliminary stages, crypto-related defendants such as Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) and Roger Ver are said to be hopeful about the possibility of a pardon from the Trump administration.
Trump has already granted over 1,600 pardons and commutations during his second term. This is several times more than the 250 granted during his entire first term. BeInCrypto pointed out that a significant portion of these were directed at the cryptocurrency industry. In October 2025, Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who had pleaded guilty to anti-money laundering charges, and in the same year, BitMEX co-founders and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht also received pardons.
At the center of these pardon expectations is FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried. While he has continued a public relief campaign, Trump explicitly rejected his request in January. However, Trump left room for other crypto-related cases. Discussions about a potential pardon have intensified again recently after he stated he would "look into" the case of Samourai Wallet CEO Keonne Rodriguez.
Roger Ver, known as an early supporter of Bitcoin (Bitcoin, BTC), is also actively pursuing a pardon. He hired political strategist Roger Stone and released a video directly appealing to Trump. Ethereum (Ethereum, ETH) co-founder Vitalik Buterin also commented on Roger Ver's case, stating that "good faith mistakes should be dealt with by giving an opportunity to pay taxes, including interest and penalties if necessary, not by prosecution."
Miner Joby Weeks, who pleaded guilty to tax-related charges, also wants to be included in the pardon list. Former FTX executive Ryan Salame is quietly exploring relief possibilities, publicly aligning himself with Trump's campaign messages. On Polymarket, Salame (13%), Sam Bankman-Fried (11%), and Do Kwon (9%) were mentioned as candidates in a market related to the possibility of a pardon before 2027.
The Senate is already investigating Trump's crypto pardons. BeInCrypto reported that if the symbolic announcement of 250 pardons around July 4 materializes, political scrutiny will increase, but the administration could tie the pardons to the pretext of a national holiday. If a pardon list is actually released, it could also influence the decisions of prosecutors and exchanges regarding the legal costs of operating crypto businesses and the regulatory environment.
*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only and we are not responsible for any investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.*
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