Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the disgraced founder of FTX, posted on X for the first time in two years, causing FTX’s native token (FTT) to briefly spike by 30%. Despite having no connection to FTX’s bankruptcy proceedings, the post triggered a wave of speculation, briefly pushing FTT’s price from $1.63 to $2.03 before retreating to $1.72 within 30 minutes.
SBF’s First Public Statement Since 2023
In his Feb. 25 X post, Bankman-Fried made a sarcastic remark about unemployment, drawing an indirect comparison to government employees facing layoffs.
“I have a lot of sympathy for gov’t employees: I, too, have not checked my email for the past few (hundred) days. And I can confirm that being unemployed is a lot less relaxing than it looks.”
— SBF (@SBF_FTX), Feb. 25, 2025
The comment appeared to reference a recent U.S. government initiative requiring federal employees to justify their roles, but did not mention FTX, its bankruptcy, or his ongoing legal battle.
FTT’s Short-Lived Rally
Despite the post having no connection to FTX’s bankruptcy case, FTT’s price surged from $1.63 to $2.03 within minutes following the post. However, the rally was short-lived, as the token quickly fell back to $1.72 within half an hour.
FTT remains down over 97% from its all-time high of $85.02, recorded in September 2021 before FTX’s collapse.
Speculation Around a Presidential Pardon for SBF
SBF’s return to X comes amid rumors that his parents, Stanford Law professors Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, are seeking a presidential pardon.
According to a Bloomberg report from Jan. 30, SBF’s parents have met with lawyers and individuals connected to Donald Trump’s administration to explore the possibility of clemency.
SBF’s Legal Battle Continues
Bankman-Fried is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence, handed down in March 2024, after being found guilty of multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy related to FTX’s collapse.
Although his conviction is being challenged in court, he remains in custody at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center.
What’s Next for FTT?
While SBF’s surprise post briefly moved FTT’s price, it did not trigger a sustained rally. The token’s future remains uncertain, as FTX’s bankruptcy proceedings continue and creditors await repayment.
For now, SBF’s unexpected return to social media has reignited discussions around his case, but whether it has any lasting impact on the crypto market remains to be seen.
