After CZ’s pardon, could Sam Bankman-Fried be next?

Core Insights - October has been a volatile month for the crypto industry, starting with Bitcoin reaching an all-time high of over $126,000, but later facing challenges due to geopolitical tensions and tariffs proposed by President Trump [1] - Trump's unexpected pardon of Binance founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao has stirred hope within the crypto community for potential pardons for other figures like Sam Bankman-Fried [1][3] Group 1: Changpeng Zhao's Pardon - Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, was convicted for failing to maintain adequate anti-money laundering standards and sentenced to four months in prison in 2024, but has now received a presidential pardon [2] - Following his prison term, Zhao relocated to Dubai and has now secured his pardon, which may influence the regulatory landscape for crypto firms [2] Group 2: Sam Bankman-Fried's Situation - Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the now-bankrupt FTX exchange, was convicted of multiple counts of fraud and money laundering, receiving a 25-year prison sentence and ordered to forfeit over $11 billion [8] - There is speculation within the crypto community that Trump might consider pardoning Bankman-Fried, similar to Zhao's case, which could have significant implications for the industry [3][10] Group 3: FTX and Alameda Research - FTX, once the third-largest crypto exchange, collapsed due to financial fraud involving the misappropriation of customer funds, leading to its bankruptcy filing in November 2022 [5][7] - Alameda Research, founded by Bankman-Fried, operated like a hedge fund and was implicated in the misuse of customer funds, with its CEO Caroline Ellison aware of the fraudulent activities [6][9]