Sam Bankman-Fried Speaks Out from Prison: Life Behind Bars, Political Shifts, and Crypto’s Future

Just before his cryptocurrency empire collapsed in November 2021, Sam Bankman-Fried contemplated appearing on Tucker Carlson’s show to "come out as a Republican" in an effort to rehabilitate his public image. Nearly a year after being sentenced to 25 years in prison for defrauding users of his cryptocurrency exchange, FTX, he finally followed through on that plan.

Speaking from a small side room in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, Bankman-Fried spent his 33rd birthday discussing life behind bars, his shifting political views, and his perspective on the future of cryptocurrency with Carlson. Perhaps most intriguing was his revelation about sharing a cellblock with music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, who is currently facing sex trafficking charges.

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Life in Prison: "A Dystopian" Reality

Bankman-Fried described prison life as "sort of dystopian" but emphasized that he does not feel physically threatened. He resides in a unit designated for detainees who require extra protection, housing both high-profile defendants and former gang members. Despite the circumstances, he has managed to form friendships and spends time playing chess, often losing to cellmates he hadn't expected to be skilled at the game.

"Former armed robbers who don’t speak English and probably didn’t graduate middle school—surprisingly, a number of them are fairly good at chess. I lose games to them all the time," he admitted.

Beyond chess, Bankman-Fried occupies his time by reading novels and working on his legal appeal. Carlson noted that he appeared "less jumpy" and healthier than in previous television appearances, to which Bankman-Fried attributed his newfound clarity to being removed from the chaos of his former life.

From Biden Donor to Republican Sympathizer

Bankman-Fried detailed his evolving political stance, explaining that in 2020, he was a center-left donor who contributed to Joe Biden’s campaign. However, after spending considerable time in Washington, D.C., he grew disillusioned with the administration. By late 2022, he was donating as much to Republicans as he was to Democrats—albeit privately.

At trial, prosecutors revealed documents showing that, post-FTX collapse, he had considered appearing on Carlson’s show to publicly distance himself from the "woke agenda." When asked if he had called in political favors during his trial, he denied doing so, stating that he wanted to avoid anything "inappropriate."

Optimism for Crypto’s Future

Despite his downfall, Bankman-Fried remains hopeful about cryptocurrency’s future, particularly under a potential second term for Donald Trump. He believes regulatory developments could help crypto transition into an "everyday tool" but acknowledges that significant hurdles remain.

Carlson pressed him on whether he believes shady practices still plague the industry. Bankman-Fried conceded that a decade ago, the space was rife with misconduct but argued that crypto has since shrunk and become more regulated, making fraudulent activities less prevalent.

Financial Ruin and His Biggest Regret

With an $11 billion forfeiture ruling against him, Bankman-Fried admitted he has "basically no" money left. He lamented that had FTX not collapsed into bankruptcy, the company would have had roughly $93 billion in assets to cover its $15 billion in liabilities—enough to make creditors whole.

"It’s been a colossal disaster," he said. "Not stopping that from happening is by far the biggest regret of my life."

Birthday in Prison: "Not Looking Forward to It"

Turning 33 behind bars, Bankman-Fried told Carlson he had no special plans for his birthday. He had never been one to celebrate much on the outside, and he wasn’t particularly keen on marking another year in prison.

When Carlson jokingly asked if he had told Diddy about his birthday, he replied, "I’m not planning to, but someone else might tell him."

From his changing political views to his reflections on prison life, Bankman-Fried’s first major interview since his conviction sheds new light on the disgraced crypto mogul’s mindset—and the long road ahead.