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Sam Bankman-Fried, the co-founder of the defunct crypto exchange FTX who has been convicted, has lodged an appeal against his 25-year prison sentence.
His legal representatives contend that he was “presumed guilty” from the beginning and was deprived of a fair trial due to bias from the judiciary and public opinion.
As reported by Bloomberg on Tuesday, Bankman-Fried’s lawyers filed documents with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York, claiming that their client’s conviction resulted from a “rush to judgment” by prosecutors, the media, and U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan.
“Sam Bankman-Fried was never presumed innocent. He was presumed guilty—before he was even charged,” the defense asserted.
The filing accuses Judge Kaplan of showing bias during the trial, alleging he “repeatedly ridiculed” the defense team and expressed skepticism towards Bankman-Fried’s testimony in front of the jury.
Sam Bankman-Fried Conviction and Appeal Strategy
In 2023, Bankman-Fried was found guilty on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy linked to the downfall of FTX and its trading partner, Alameda Research.
Prosecutors claimed he misused over $8 billion in customer funds to cover losses, make political contributions, and purchase luxury real estate.
Despite asserting that he never aimed to defraud anyone, jurors reached a guilty verdict in under five hours of deliberation.
Leading the appeal is Alexandra Shapiro, an experienced appellate attorney recognized for overturning notable white-collar convictions.
SBF Criminal defense attorney/ Source: TMZ
She recently achieved a victory for Neil Cole, founder of Iconix Brand Group, who was exonerated by the Second Circuit last week.
Shapiro intends to argue that Judge Kaplan unjustly restricted Bankman-Fried’s capacity to present evidence, including his assertion that FTX possessed adequate assets to reimburse customers and that his actions were influenced by legal counsel from the company.
[SBF says:]
This is where the money went. https://t.co/HVRwEw5Z1k https://t.co/5DrA13L5YE pic.twitter.com/O6q77DvmTn— SBF (@SBF_FTX) October 31, 2025
The defense claims Kaplan coerced jurors into a swift verdict by offering to prolong deliberations late into the evening with dinner provided.
They argue that the judge’s comments, including labeling part of Bankman-Fried’s testimony “a joke“, undermined the fairness of the trial. The appeal seeks to annul his 25-year sentence and contest the $11 billion restitution order.
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His legal team is seeking a new trial with a different judge.
Pardon Speculation
Earlier reports indicated that SBF’s parents were investigating potential options for a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump.
In March, Bankman-Fried appeared on Tucker Carlson’s podcast, where he criticized former SEC Chair Gary Gensler.
Last month, a post on his official X account claimed that “Biden’s anti-crypto SEC/DOJ went after him and arrested him in 2022 to prevent his testimony on Capitol Hill.
Sam Bankman-Fried @SBF_FTX asserts that his 2022 arrest was not about justice but politics, alleging the Biden administration turned against him after he supported GOP candidates.#SBF #GOP https://t.co/T5ICfCHuWG
— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) October 15, 2025
Sam Bankman-Fried @SBF_FTX asserts that his 2022 arrest was not about justice but politics, alleging the Biden administration turned against him after he supported GOP candidates.#SBF #GOP https://t.co/T5ICfCHuWG“They had me arrested weeks before the crypto bill I was working on was scheduled for a vote—and the night before I was set to testify before Congress,” the post stated.
While Bankman-Fried’s legal team remains optimistic, legal analysts suggest that overturning a high-profile conviction of this nature is uncertain.
Leading voices in the crypto community believe SBF is not comparable to Ross Ulbricht or Changpeng Zhao, and a pardon could convey a troubling message to wrongdoers.
Removing consequences less than a year after sentencing might encourage other entrepreneurs to exploit investors.
Impact of FTX Collapse on Victims
The collapse of FTX has significantly affected its victims. One creditor expressed before SBF’s sentencing:
“My whole life has been destroyed. I have two young children, one born right before the collapse. Beyond the money, I lost my happiness, my ability to get out of bed, my desire to continue living. My wife is suicidal and depressed.”
Others recounted being on the verge of losing their homes, and how their efforts to lift their families out of “generational poverty“ were undone when FTX abruptly ceased withdrawals.
Bankman-Fried is currently serving his sentence in a federal facility in California and is not anticipated to attend the appeal hearing.
The post Sam Bankman-Fried Appeals 25-Year Sentence, Claims He Was Presumed Guilty appeared first on Cryptonews.
