Sam Bankman-Fried denies criminality, expresses optimism about crypto under Trump

During his appearance on Tucker Carlson’s podcast, former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) shared his perspective on various topics. SBF emphasized that he does not consider himself a criminal and expressed hope for the future of crypto under President Donald Trump’s administration. He described his time in prison as “dystopian” and mentioned the kindness he received from rapper Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. SBF discussed his incarceration experience with Carlson, who questioned him about his status as a prominent figure in the crypto industry. SBF defended himself by stating, “I don’t think I was a criminal. Certainly, the answer to that is no. I mean, I think the DOJ [US Department of Justice] thinks that I may have been, but I don’t share their viewpoint.” Regarding political influence and his interactions with the Democratic party, SBF explained that despite his substantial donations, the party did not assist him in avoiding prison. He disclosed that by late 2022, he had increased donations to Republicans significantly, leading to a shift in perception following FTX’s collapse. SBF clarified that he did reach out to Democratic officials but refrained from seeking favors, as most distanced themselves promptly. However, he heard positive remarks about himself indirectly. He also criticized former SEC chair Gary Gensler’s stringent approach to crypto regulation, suggesting political ambitions as a potential motivator. In terms of his former associates, SBF noted that few remained loyal after the scandal unfolded, attributing their departure to the intense scrutiny surrounding FTX’s downfall. He mentioned the plight of Ryan Salame, his former co-CEO at FTX, who faced legal challenges and ultimately received a prison sentence despite contesting the allegations to protect his wife from prosecution. Reflecting on the regulatory environment, SBF expressed optimism about the Trump administration's favorable stance on crypto regulation compared to the previous administration led by Joe Biden. He highlighted the administration’s positive rhetoric towards the industry and stressed the importance of concrete actions to support the crypto sector's growth in the United States. The post titled "Sam Bankman-Fried denies criminality, expresses optimism about crypto under Trump" was originally published on CryptoSlate.  [Watch the video here](video-link)