Even from a federal prison cell, Sam Bankman-Fried can’t stop making headlines—or enemies. The disgraced FTX founder, currently serving a 25-year sentence at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, has issued a public SBF CLARITY Act endorsement via social media, praising the crypto legislation as a “huge milestone” and a victory for President-elect Donald Trump . The unsolicited support immediately triggered a sharp bipartisan rebuke from lawmakers who made it clear: SBF’s approval is a political liability, not an asset.
The SBF CLARITY Act Endorsement: What He Said
On Wednesday, February 25, Bankman-Fried took to X to voice his enthusiasm for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. He claimed to have championed similar legislation to remove crypto from SEC Chair Gary Gensler’s oversight before Gensler “helped Biden’s DOJ put me behind bars” .
The post was classic SBF: self-serving, revisionist, and utterly oblivious to optics. It appears that even from a prison cell, he retains a remarkable talent for uniting Republicans and Democrats—against him.
Bipartisan Blowback: “We Do Not Need—Nor Want—Your Support”
Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), a long-time crypto advocate and key sponsor of market structure bills, wasted no time distancing the CLARITY Act from Bankman-Fried. Her response was withering:
“My legislation couldn’t be more different than the bill you tried to buy from Congress over my objection in 2022. We do not need—nor want—your support.”
Lummis went further, noting that under the stricter provisions of the CLARITY Act, SBF’s crimes would have likely resulted in an even longer prison sentence .
Across the aisle, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) seized the moment to remind the public of SBF’s track record, describing him as a “fraudster who stole at least $8 billion from customers” and reinforcing her stance that the industry requires strict guardrails .
White House: No Pardon Plans
The White House has confirmed it has no plans to pardon Sam Bankman-Fried, signaling that his social media offensive is falling on deaf ears . The administration appears keen to avoid any association with the convicted fraudster, particularly as the CLARITY Act gains momentum.
The CLARITY Act: What SBF Is Actually Endorsing
The legislation aims to resolve the jurisdictional tug-of-war between the SEC and CFTC by establishing clear criteria for classifying digital assets as commodities or securities . It’s precisely the kind of regulatory clarity institutional investors have long demanded.
However, the bill faces a complex path through a divided Congress. While Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently predicted a 90% chance of passage by late April, unsolicited endorsements from convicted felons provide easy ammunition for opponents . The challenge for lawmakers now is to convince colleagues that the bill is robust enough to regulate the very people cheering for it.
My Thoughts
The SBF CLARITY Act endorsement is a masterclass in how not to influence policy. Bankman-Fried’s social media missive does exactly what he claims to want to prevent: it gives ammunition to the bill’s opponents.
Senator Lummis’s response is particularly devastating. By contrasting the CLARITY Act with the DCCPA—the bill SBF aggressively lobbied for in 2022—she draws a bright line between legitimate market structure reform and the fraudster-friendly legislation SBF tried to buy .
For the crypto industry, this is a painful reminder that reputation matters. The CLARITY Act has genuine bipartisan support and could finally provide the regulatory clarity institutions need. But every time SBF opens his mouth, he makes that outcome harder.
The takeaway? Even from prison, SBF remains a toxic asset. Lawmakers will now work overtime to ensure this endorsement becomes a footnote, not a headline. The bill’s prospects remain strong—90% odds per Garlinghouse—but this episode adds unnecessary friction .
