Sam Bankman-Fried Requests New Trial for FTX Based on New Evidence

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FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried is contesting his 25-year sentence by submitting a motion for a new trial on February 10.

The thirty-three-year-old references “new testimony” that purportedly demonstrates the failed exchange was solvent.

This filing could complicate the liquidation process, as it claims that the Department of Justice withheld crucial evidence during the initial trial.

Sam Bankman-Fried Requests New Trial for FTX Based on New Evidence0 EXCLUSIVE: SBF SEEKS NEW TRIAL, CLAIMS DOJ SILENCED DEFENSE WITNESSES AND MISLED JURY ON FTX SOLVENCY
Sam Bankman-Fried has submitted a Rule 33 motion for a new trial, asserting that the jury was not presented with essential evidence, including sworn statements indicating FTX was solvent… https://t.co/5fQ3ai4OH2 pic.twitter.com/ggCkYwcIkW

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 10, 2026

Why Is Bankman-Fried Pursuing a New FTX Trial Now?

It has been several years since FTX’s collapse in November 2022, which resulted in the loss of $8 billion in customer assets.

Since that time, self-custody has gained traction among retail investors, who have navigated through various bear markets while US regulators work on comprehensive legislation to prevent a recurrence.

Nevertheless, SBF continues to fight. Currently serving a 25-year sentence, the disgraced entrepreneur filed a pro se motion invoking Rule 33 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Bankman-Fried contends that his original conviction was unjust due to the absence of key witnesses during the trial.

While global enforcement actions typically succeed in addressing financial misconduct through standard audits, SBF argues that the DOJ’s swift prosecution overlooked the true financial situation of FTX.US.

He asserts that the funds were “always there,” a claim he plans to substantiate with evidence that was reportedly unavailable during his initial defense.

What the New Motion Asserts

The new filing specifically relies on statements from Daniel Chapsky, the former head of data science at FTX.US.

According to the motion, Chapsky’s data analysis contradicts the government’s account regarding the $8 billion deficit.

Bankman-Fried also highlights potentially beneficial testimony from former co-CEO Ryan Salame, who is currently serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence.

In the legal documents submitted on February 10, Bankman-Fried claims that prosecutors coerced witnesses and that Judge Lewis Kaplan exhibited “manifest prejudice” by hastening the verdict. He is requesting a new judge for any retrial, characterizing the original proceedings as politically motivated “lawfare.”

While the industry has largely transitioned to a compliance-oriented market structure to avert another FTX-like collapse, SBF contends that the DOJ obstructed him from presenting data to the jury that demonstrated solvency.

Legal experts observe that Rule 33 motions encounter a significantly high threshold, often regarded as a “Hail Mary” in federal appeals.

New evidence indicates that Biden’s DOJ intimidated multiple witnesses into silence or into altering their testimony. My conviction should be overturned.
Judge Lewis Kaplan should recuse himself from this motion. Given his history of prejudging defendants—including me, @rsalame7926,… pic.twitter.com/MgT9GdPZqu

— SBF (@SBF_FTX) February 11, 2026

What This Implies for Crypto Regulation

Although a retrial is statistically improbable, the motion keeps the FTX issues at the forefront for active traders and victims awaiting compensation.

The ongoing nature of the case underscores the long-term dangers associated with offshore exchange failures.

Regulators are likely to leverage this continued legal situation to advocate for stricter oversight. Similar crackdowns are already occurring globally, such as when Venezuela’s anti-corruption investigation led to the closure of exchanges in a large-scale operation.

For the market, this serves as a stark reminder that the legal repercussions from the 2022 crash are far from resolved, even as prices begin to recover.

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