Caroline Ellison, former co-CEO of Alameda Research, is scheduled to be released from federal prison on January 21, 2026, according to U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons records.
Key points to remember:
- Former Alameda co-CEO Caroline Ellison is scheduled to be released on January 21, 2026, approximately 10 months before the end of her sentence.
- Ellison pleaded guilty to the collapse of FTX and cooperated with prosecutors, helping to secure the conviction of Sam Bankman-Fried.
- Her early release is a testament to her cooperation and good behavior, even though she faces a 10-year ban and continued supervision.
Ellison, 31, has been in community custody since October 2025 after being transferred from a federal prison in Connecticut, Business Insider reported earlier this month.
His release date places his release from custody approximately 10 months before the court’s total sentence of two years.
Ellison pleaded guilty in FTX collapse that wiped out billions
Ellison pleaded guilty in December 2022 to fraud and conspiracy charges related to the collapse of FTX, the crypto exchange founded by Sam Bankman-Fried.
FTX’s failure resulted in billions of dollars in customer losses and was one of the most significant scandals in the history of the digital assets industry.
As part of his plea deal, Ellison cooperated extensively with federal prosecutors and served as a key witness during Bankman-Fried’s criminal trial.
Her testimony detailed how Alameda and FTX commingled customer funds and concealed financial deficits, evidence that contributed to Bankman-Fried’s conviction on multiple counts of fraud. He was later sentenced to 25 years in prison.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan sentenced Ellison in September 2024, ordering him to forfeit $11 billion and serve a two-year prison sentence starting in November of that year.
This earlier than expected release appears to reflect his good conduct and cooperation with investigators.
In a filing submitted before sentencing, John J. Ray III, the CEO overseeing FTX’s bankruptcy estate, said Ellison provided “valuable assistance” that helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars in assets for creditors.
These efforts have played a role in ongoing attempts to return funds to customers affected by the collapse.
Earlier this month, Ellison also agreed to a 10-year ban on serving as an officer or director of public companies or cryptocurrency exchanges.
After her release, she will remain on probation, which will limit her future involvement in regulated financial businesses.
Bankman-Fried calls for clemency from Trump, says FTX case was politically motivated
Meanwhile, Bankman-Fried continues to seek post-conviction relief. He is seeking clemency from US President Donald Trump, who has previously issued high-profile crypto-related pardons, including to former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao.
Bankman-Fried argued that her prosecution was politically motivated, a claim that prosecutors have rejected.
According to Bureau of Prisons records, Bankman-Fried is currently scheduled to be released in September 2044, highlighting the stark contrast in outcomes between the two former leaders.
The article Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda, scheduled to exit in January 2026 appeared first on Cryptonews.
