After two years of silence, former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has returned to social media, posting on X for the first time since his conviction. His unexpected message sparked a brief rally in FTX Token (FTT), which surged 30% before quickly retracting.
SBF’s First Post in Two Years
Currently serving a 25-year sentence for fraud related to the collapse of FTX, Bankman-Fried broke his silence on February 25. His post humorously compared his time away from emails to the recent layoffs in the U.S. government, referencing Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative.
1) I have a lot of sympathy for gov’t employees: I, too, have not checked my email for the past few (hundred) days
— SBF (@SBF_FTX) February 25, 2025
And I can confirm that being unemployed is a lot less relaxing than it looks
"I have a lot of sympathy for gov’t employees: I, too, have not checked my email for the past few (hundred) days," SBF wrote. He also reflected on the challenges of corporate layoffs, stating, "Firing people is one of the hardest things to do in the world. It sucks for everyone involved."
His post immediately grabbed the crypto community’s attention, reigniting discussions around his controversial past and legal battle.
Despite having no direct connection to FTX’s operations, SBF’s social media activity triggered an immediate spike in FTT’s price. According to CoinMarketCap data, the token jumped from $1.63 to over $2—marking a roughly 30% increase—before settling back to $1.75 within 30 minutes.
This is not the first time that SBF’s presence in the news cycle has caused price fluctuations for FTT, which is still down over 97% from its all-time high of $85.02 in September 2021.
Legal Battles and Clemency Rumors
Since his conviction in November 2023 on charges including wire fraud and securities fraud, Bankman-Fried has remained in Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center. His sentencing in March 2024 cemented his downfall from a crypto billionaire to a prisoner.
Recently, reports from Bloomberg suggested that SBF’s parents, Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, are lobbying for a presidential pardon. They are allegedly in talks with figures close to Donald Trump to explore clemency options. This has sparked speculation on whether SBF could follow the path of Ross Ulbricht, the Silk Road founder whom Trump pardoned after serving 11 years.
Bankman-Fried’s return to social media has divided the crypto community. Some see it as an attempt to remain relevant, while others speculate that he is strategically aligning himself with political figures who could potentially help his case. His mention of Musk’s "chainsaw approach" to bureaucracy has fueled further discussions about his political leanings.
Sam Bankman-Fried’s parents seek a Trump pardon for their son, serving 25 years for FTX fraud.
— AF Post (@AFpost) January 30, 2025
Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/1o3yQxulGD
Meanwhile, the crypto market remains skeptical of FTT’s future. While the brief pump showcased the token’s volatility, it also highlighted how market sentiment can shift dramatically with a single tweet.
HODL Team
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