Background
Sam Bankman‑Fried, the former CEO of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, is serving a 25‑year federal sentence after being convicted on seven fraud and conspiracy counts.
Request for a New Trial
On February 10, 2026, Bankman‑Fried filed a motion under Rule 33 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure seeking a new trial, alleging newly discovered evidence.
The request was filed by his mother, Stanford Law professor Barbara Fried, after he dismissed his appellate lawyer Jason Driscoll and chose to represent himself.
Legal Requirements
Rule 33 permits a defendant to request a new trial within three years of a guilty verdict if new evidence is discovered. Requests based on other grounds must be filed within 14 days.
Political Narrative
Bankman‑Fried has used social‑media posts to claim he is a victim of “lawfare” by the Biden administration and has aligned himself with former President Donald Trump, who has said he will not pardon him.
Potential Outcomes
If the court finds the evidence credible, the conviction could be vacated and a new trial scheduled; otherwise the motion will be denied and the sentence will continue.
- New trial could overturn the 2024 conviction.
- If denied, the 25‑year sentence remains.
- The case highlights the intersection of crypto regulation and politics.