SBF plans a new token from prison: ambition or illusion?
Sam Bankman-Fried, behind bars, continues to think big. According to recent reports, the former head of the collapsed FTX exchange is discussing launching his own token after his release. According to his former cellmate David Bunevacz, SBF stated that "serious money" would require between $50 and $100 million, and mentioned a certain cryptocurrency project that "everyone will flock to."
Of course, Bunevacz admits this could have been a joke — it's unlikely anyone would want to entrust their funds to a man whose name has become synonymous with the biggest fraud in crypto industry history. However, the very fact of such conversations raises questions. Does SBF seriously believe the market will forgive him for losing billions in client funds? From my perspective, this is either an attempt to save face in front of those around him, or another sign of detachment from reality.
Memoirs, Depression, and the Fight for Freedom
In addition to plans for a token, Bankman-Fried takes daily medication for clinical depression and ADHD, and is writing memoirs titled "Manfred." Of his 25-year sentence, he has served only two, but is already actively seeking early release or a reduced sentence. His parents have hired Republican consultants Brian Lanza and Corey Langhofer for lobbying, while SBF himself has made a desperate attempt to cultivate an image as a Donald Trump supporter.
In 2025, he organized an unauthorized video interview from prison with Tucker Carlson, for which he was briefly placed in solitary confinement. Then, through his father Joseph Bankman, SBF resumed activity on X, posting pro-Trump messages and calling himself a victim of the crypto policy of the Joe Biden administration. However, the appeals court rejected his request for a retrial on June 12, and his attempts to obtain a presidential pardon have so far been unsuccessful.
Even the mother of the FTX founder, Barbara Fried, is actively seeking his release, but the judge has demanded she stop her excessive calls to his chambers. Prosecutors also noted that one of the motions allegedly sent by SBF from prison was delivered via FedEx from an area near his mother's home — casting doubt on his isolation.
Professional Perspective
The story of SBF is a classic example of how ambition and a lack of moral boundaries lead to collapse. His idea of launching a new token after release seems more like a fantasy than a real plan. Even assuming he finds funding, trust in his name is so shattered that any project under his leadership would be perceived as a red flag. The market no longer forgives such mistakes, and investors have become much more cautious after the collapse of FTX.