Crypto Moguls Line Up for Trump Pardons—Who’s Begging for a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card?
As the 2024 election heats up, whispers of crypto founders scrambling for presidential clemency hit terminal velocity. From fraud charges to regulatory slip-ups, these blockchain barons are betting big on political connections over protocol security.
Funny how decentralization ideals crumble when prison bars loom—turns out even crypto’s loudest ’code is law’ evangelists prefer old-fashioned lobbying. Meanwhile, the SEC sharpens its knives (and its PowerPoint slides).
Bonus jab: Nothing says ’financial revolution’ like groveling for a pardon between golf rounds at Mar-a-Lago.
Changpeng "CZ" Zhao
Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao said in an exclusive interview with Decrypt’s sister company Rug Radio that he had lawyers applying for a pardon.
In the interview, Zhao dismissed claims that surfaced in early 2025, alleging that he was looking to exchange Binance.US equity for a pardon after he completed his four-month prison sentence for money laundering violations.
“There’s a lot of news articles saying I’m trying to exchange Binance.US equity for a pardon,” Zhao said. “That’s completely not true. I’ve had zero discussions about Binance.US equity with anyone.”
Rather, Zhao said he is taking the legal path in search of a pardon, having lawyers apply for him a couple of weeks before his interview at Token2049 Dubai at the end of April.
“If they’re writing these articles, we might as well officially apply, right?” he said, adding that he “certainly wouldn’t mind” receiving a pardon.
Sam Bankman-Fried
Imprisoned FTX co-founder and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, also known as SBF, is reported to be campaigning for a pardon from the president.
SBF’s parents and Stanford Law Professors Joseph Bankman and Barabra Fried are said to be doing the legwork, according to the report from Bloomberg, consulting with those close to President Trump’s inner circles in the process. Decrypt reached out to SBF’s legal team to clarify the reports on seeking a pardon, but did not immediately receive a response.
The now disgraced crypto founder was charged with multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy and ultimately sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the collapse of FTX. He is appealing the verdict.
Roger "Bitcoin Jesus" Ver
In the most public display of those on this list, Roger “Bitcoin Jesus” Ver begged President Trump for a pardon in a video posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in January.
An early investor in Bitcoin, a backer of a number of crypto firms, and co-founder of the bitcoin Foundation, Ver faces jail time for charges of tax evasion with a federal indictment alleging he evaded paying taxes of nearly $50 million.
Mr. President, I am an American, and I need your help. Only you, with your commitment to justice, can save me @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/WhVTZ1M1GB
— Roger Ver (@rogerkver) January 26, 2025
But in Ver’s case, the situation is complicated, as he denounced his U.S. Citizenship, leading Elon Musk to suggest there WOULD be “no pardon for Ver,” adding that “membership has its privileges.”
Ver was arrested in 2024 and is currently fighting extradition to the United States while out on bail in Spain. In April 2025, he paid Trump confidant Roger Stone $600,000 to lobby on his behalf, most notably against the “exit tax” which is connected to his tax evasion charges.
Joby Weeks
Arguably less well-known than other names on this list, Jobadiah (or Joby) Weeks pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to offer and sell unregistered securities in 2020 in connection to BitClub, one of crypto’s most notable Ponzi schemes that ripped off investors to the tune of $722 million.
BitClub famously lobbied for money from investors to buy mining equipment to generate notable Bitcoin returns, with the expectation that investors would receive a share of the mining profits.
While Weeks did not directly mention a pardon, he did allude to it, telling Politico in March, “It would be great to have Trump step in.” Weeks also shifted his defense tactics when Trump took office, opting to represent himself while he seeks a dismissal of his case, per Politico.
Edited by Andrew Hayward
