Trump Pardons BitMEX Founders Convicted of Money Laundering Violations

The clemency for Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed reignites debates over cryptocurrency regulation and executive clemency powers.

President Donald Trump granted pardons to BitMEX founders Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
The three founders pleaded guilty in 2022 to violating the Bank Secrecy Act and paid $10 million fines each for failing to implement anti-money laundering measures.
BitMEX, described in court records as a 'money laundering platform,' was fined $100 million in 2022 for regulatory violations.
Federal prosecutors criticized BitMEX for operating 'in the shadows of the financial markets' and neglecting basic compliance protocols.
The pardons have renewed scrutiny of cryptocurrency regulation and the implications of presidential clemency for financial crimes.