Key FTX figures to be released: Former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison to be released in January next year

The latest records from the Federal Bureau of Prisons show that Caroline Ellison, former Co-CEO of Alameda Research, is expected to be released on January 21, 2026. This date is approximately 10 months earlier than her original sentence, once again sparking market attention to the subsequent effects of the FTX incident and the direction of US crypto regulation.

According to previously disclosed media information, 31-year-old Ellison has been transferred from federal prison in Connecticut to community confinement since October 2025, indicating a significant relaxation of her incarceration conditions. She admitted to multiple fraud and conspiracy charges in December 2022, all directly related to the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange. The incident resulted in the loss of billions of dollars in customer assets and is regarded as one of the most severe systemic collapses in the history of the crypto industry.

During the trial, Ellison chose to fully cooperate with US prosecutors and testified as a key witness against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF). Ultimately, Bankman-Fried was convicted on multiple counts and sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. US District Judge Lewis Kaplan sentenced Ellison in September 2024 to two years in prison and ordered the confiscation of approximately $11 billion in assets. She officially began serving her sentence in November 2024.

Ellison’s early release is widely believed to be related to her good behavior during incarceration and her high level of cooperation in FTX’s liquidation and investigation efforts. FTX bankruptcy trustee and current CEO John J. Ray III stated in court documents prior to sentencing that Ellison provided “highly valuable assistance” to debtors and creditors, helping recover hundreds of millions of dollars in assets, which somewhat mitigated investor losses.

It is noteworthy that Ellison has agreed not to serve as an executive or director of any publicly listed company or cryptocurrency exchange for the next 10 years. Even after her release, she will remain under strict regulatory supervision.

Meanwhile, Bankman-Fried is still making final efforts regarding his own fate. He is actively seeking a pardon from US President Donald Trump and claims that his conviction is politically motivated, accusing the Biden administration of pursuing an “anti-cryptocurrency” stance. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, barring unforeseen circumstances, SBF is expected to be released in September 2044.

As Ellison prepares to be released, the landmark crypto scandal of the FTX incident has entered its final stage, but its long-term impact on industry compliance, crypto regulation, and executive accountability continues to ferment.