- Sam Bankman-Fried defended himself in a prison interview, claiming he was never a criminal.
- He revealed that fellow inmate Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been “kind” to him, adding an unexpected twist.
- SBF hinted at a political shift, aligning more with the Trump administration while criticizing SEC Chair Gary Gensler.
In yet another unexpected media appearance, Tucker Carlson has released a second interview with Sam Bankman-Fried, marking his first on-camera conversation from prison. The former FTX CEO, now serving a 25-year sentence, revisited familiar themes—defending his actions and questioning his conviction in one of the most surreal crypto media moments of the year.
SBF Doubles Down from Prison
Sentenced last March for running what prosecutors called one of the largest financial frauds in crypto history, Bankman-Fried also faces an $11 billion forfeiture order. Now, with his latest media push, it seems he’s angling for clemency—just as presidential pardons make headlines.
The FTX Collapse—His Take
In his chat with Carlson, SBF insisted he was never a criminal. “I don’t think I was a criminal. I mean, I think the DOJ thinks that I may have been, but I don’t care,” he said, brushing off the charges. He even suggested that FTX was still solvent at the time of its bankruptcy, claiming its assets could have ballooned to $100 billion—if only it hadn’t been “mismanaged” post-collapse.
Prison Life & Unlikely Bonds
Perhaps the strangest moment? Bankman-Fried revealed that fellow inmate Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been “kind to me.” The two, apparently, share a unit and have had multiple interactions—an odd pairing that adds another layer of intrigue to his incarceration.
A Shift in Politics?
Bankman-Fried’s recent interviews have hinted at a political shift, with him subtly aligning with the Trump administration. He previously told the New York Sun that he was disillusioned with Democrats and found common ground with Republicans, particularly on the issue of political weaponization.
He also took a jab at SEC Chair Gary Gensler, calling his leadership “a nightmare,” and speculated that Gensler’s regulatory stance was more about personal ambition than market fairness.
Crypto’s 2025 Rollercoaster
The timing of this interview is striking. The Trump administration has embraced crypto, launching a U.S. cryptocurrency reserve and preparing for the first-ever White House Crypto Summit. But scandals like FTX’s collapse still cast a long shadow over the industry.
Bankman-Fried’s resurgence in the media raises the question: Is he trying to rewrite his legacy, or is this just another chapter in the ongoing saga of crypto’s most infamous figure? Either way, it’s unlikely this is the last we’ll hear from him.
