TLDR
- Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) maintained his innocence during a Tucker Carlson interview from prison, stating “I don’t think I was a criminal”
- The former FTX CEO revealed he donated to both Democrats and Republicans in 2022, with Republican donations made privately
- SBF harshly criticized former SEC Chair Gary Gensler’s crypto regulation approach as “something out of a nightmare”
- Despite his 25-year sentence, SBF expressed hope for crypto’s future under President Trump’s administration
- Currently held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, SBF mentioned that fellow inmate Sean “P. Diddy” Combs has shown kindness to him
Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, maintained his innocence during a recent interview with Tucker Carlson. Speaking from prison where he is serving a 25-year sentence, Bankman-Fried rejected the criminal label attached to his case.
The interview offered a rare glimpse into Bankman-Fried’s current mindset. “I don’t think I was a criminal,” he told Carlson during their conversation. “I mean, I think the DOJ thinks that I may have been, but I don’t share their viewpoint.”
Sam Bankman-Fried is doing 25 years behind bars, and is now sharing a cell block with Diddy. He joins us from prison for an update on his new life.
(0:00) What Has Prison Been Like?
(2:28) Was SBF Ever on Adderall?
(4:42) SBF Meeting Diddy in Prison
(7:01) How Prison Has Changed… pic.twitter.com/mNSNktLibg— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) March 6, 2025
SBF appeared in relatively good spirits during the interview. He wore a brown jacket and gray t-shirt while sipping from a white flask as he spoke with the independent journalist.
The former crypto mogul described his prison experience as “dystopian.” He is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he turns 33 years old tomorrow.
From Crypto Kingdom to Prison Cell: SBF’s New Reality
Bankman-Fried mentioned sharing the facility with hip-hop executive Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. Combs is currently detained on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering at the same location.
When Carlson asked about his interactions with Combs, SBF offered positive comments. “He’s been kind to people in the unit, he’s been kind to me,” Bankman-Fried explained during the recorded conversation.
The discussion moved to political donations, a key aspect of SBF’s past activities. Evidence presented during his trial showed he donated approximately $119 million to politicians during the 2022 election cycle.
Carlson directly questioned why Democrats hadn’t helped SBF avoid prison. “You gave so much to Democrats, I thought they would rescue you in the end,” the host remarked during their exchange.
Bankman-Fried’s response revealed previously unknown details about his political giving. “By late 2022 I was giving to Republicans privately as much as Democrats,” he stated. “And that started becoming known right around FTX’s collapse, so that probably played a role.”
He further explained that he had contacted Democratic politicians but never asked for favors. Most of them distanced themselves from him “as quickly as possible” after FTX’s collapse, though he claimed to have “heard people saying third-hand nice things” about him.
SBF reserved harsh criticism for former SEC Chair Gary Gensler. He described Gensler’s approach to cryptocurrency regulation as “something out of a nightmare” during the recorded interview.
The former exchange operator suggested Gensler had personal motivations for his strict stance. “He wanted his agency to get more power,” Bankman-Fried claimed. “There are lots of stories of him being politically ambitious and feeling like if he could get on CNBC enough…raise his profile, that maybe he would be Treasury Secretary.”
Bankman-Fried also discussed former associates caught in FTX’s collapse. He expressed particular concern for Ryan Salame, who served as FTX co-CEO and received a 90-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to fraud charges.
“I think Ryan Salame is the saddest example of that,” SBF commented. He claimed Salame faced “totally bogus crimes” charges and that prosecutors threatened to charge Salame’s pregnant wife to secure his cooperation.
Despite his legal troubles, SBF expressed optimism about cryptocurrency’s future under President Donald Trump. He noted the current administration is making “a lot of good things” about the crypto industry.
The former CEO contrasted Trump’s approach with former President Biden’s cryptocurrency policies. “Obviously, it’s the follow-through that matters and that is the state we are in right now,” he added during the interview.
Bankman-Fried questioned whether legislation or executive action would drive crypto policy changes. “The big question is: when the rubber meets the road, will the administration do what needs to be done and figure out how to do it?” he said.
When asked if he could complete his 25-year sentence, SBF showed uncertainty. “I’m not sure,” he told Carlson candidly. “The hardest thing is just not having something meaningful to be doing in here.”
If he serves his full term, Bankman-Fried will be 57 upon release. There remains a possibility of sentence reduction for factors such as good behavior during his incarceration.
The interview provides a fascinating window into the mindset of a man once worth billions. FTX was valued at $32 billion before its sudden collapse in November 2022, making it one of the largest financial fraud cases in recent history.
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