Trump weighs 250 pardons; crypto defendants press for relief

The White House is weighing roughly 250 presidential pardons and commutations timed for the United States’ 250th anniversary, with a possible announcement around July 4, according to people briefed on the review. The plan is preliminary and the final list has not been set.

The president has issued more than 1,600 acts of clemency in his second term, compared with about 250 granted in his first term. Several high-profile figures tied to the cryptocurrency industry have already received relief: the founder of Binance, Changpeng Zhao, received a pardon in October 2025 after pleading guilty to anti-money-laundering charges, and the co-founders of BitMEX and Ross Ulbricht were granted clemency earlier in 2025. Legal commentator Collin Rugg wrote that Ulbricht received “two life sentences, plus 40 years,” a harsher term than some other offenders on the site.

Prominent crypto defendants are pressing for inclusion if a larger clemency package is issued. Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX who was convicted in a high-profile trial, has run a sustained public campaign for relief. The president denied Bankman-Fried’s request in January, but supporters have continued to lobby for clemency. The president has indicated he would “look at” the case of Samourai Wallet CEO Keonne Rodriguez.

Roger Ver, an early Bitcoin backer known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” has mounted a public bid for a pardon. Ver retained political operative Roger Stone and recorded a video plea. Elon Musk has explored supporting Ver’s case, and other industry figures have voiced views on whether certain enforcement actions amounted to prosecutable offenses. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin wrote that “genuine good faith mistakes should be treated by giving the actor the opportunity to pay back taxes if needed with interest and penalties, not with prosecution,” in reference to requests for leniency in tax or regulatory matters.

Other names discussed as potential recipients include Joby Weeks, a miner who pleaded guilty to tax-related charges tied to a crypto scheme; former FTX executive Ryan Salame, who has publicly aligned with pro-Trump positions while seeking relief; and Do Kwon, the founder of the collapsed Terra/Luna project, for whom some advocates have sought clemency. Betting markets show odds on several candidates, with one market listing Ryan Salame at about 13%, Sam Bankman-Fried at 11% and Do Kwon at 9% among prospects to be pardoned before 2027.

The Senate has opened an investigation into the administration’s crypto-related clemency decisions. Administration officials and industry participants say the timing and size of any July 4 list could come into focus in the coming weeks as the White House completes its review. The final roster of recipients remains uncertain.