Former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison Set for Early Release From Federal Custody

The fallout from the collapse of the FTX crypto empire continues to unfold, even years after the exchange imploded. One of the most closely watched figures from that scandal, Caroline Ellison, is now approaching the end of her time in federal custody. According to U.S. Bureau of Prisons records, Ellison is scheduled for full release on January 21, 2026, roughly ten months earlier than her original sentence term.

Her early release marks another chapter in one of the most consequential financial crime cases in crypto history, a case that reshaped regulatory scrutiny and permanently altered the industry’s public image.

From Alameda Research to Federal Custody

Caroline Ellison, now 31, served as co-CEO of Alameda Research, the hedge fund closely intertwined with FTX. In December 2022, she pleaded guilty to multiple fraud and conspiracy charges connected to the misuse of customer funds and internal financial manipulation that ultimately led to FTX’s collapse.

The downfall of FTX wiped out billions of dollars in customer assets and triggered criminal prosecutions, civil lawsuits, and bankruptcy proceedings across multiple jurisdictions. Ellison’s role placed her at the center of those investigations, both as a participant and later as a cooperating witness.

Cooperation and Testimony Against Sam Bankman-Fried

A defining factor in Caroline Ellison sentencing outcome was her cooperation with U.S. prosecutors. She testified extensively against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, providing first-hand accounts of how customer funds were allegedly diverted to Alameda Research to cover losses and fuel risky trades.

Bankman-Fried was later convicted on multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy and sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. Ellison’s testimony was widely seen as pivotal in securing that conviction, reinforcing prosecutors’ case about deliberate misconduct rather than operational mismanagement.

Sentencing, Forfeiture, and Early Release

In September 2024, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan sentenced Caroline Ellison to two years in prison and ordered the forfeiture of $11 billion. She began serving her sentence in November 2024.

By October 2025, Ellison was transferred from a federal prison in Connecticut to community confinement, a move that typically signals the final phase of incarceration. Her scheduled January 2026 release suggests she received substantial credit for good conduct and cooperation, shortening her time in custody by nearly a year.

Role in Asset Recovery and Bankruptcy Proceedings

Caroline Ellison cooperation extended beyond criminal proceedings. In a sentencing submission, John J. Ray III, CEO of the FTX bankruptcy estate, stated that Ellison provided critical assistance that helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars in assets for creditors.

Those recoveries have been central to ongoing efforts to partially compensate victims of the FTX collapse, many of whom are still waiting for final distributions. Her involvement positioned her not just as a defendant, but also as a key source of institutional knowledge about the internal mechanics of FTX and Alameda.

A Decade-Long Ban From Crypto and Public Companies

Earlier this month, Caroline Ellison agreed to a 10-year ban from serving as an officer or director of public companies or cryptocurrency exchanges. While she will be released from custody next year, she will remain under supervised release and barred from leadership roles in regulated financial entities for the foreseeable future.

The restriction reflects regulators’ intent to prevent a return to positions of financial authority, even after prison sentences conclude.

Bankman-Fried’s Clemency Push Continues

While Caroline Ellison prepares for release, Bankman-Fried’s situation remains starkly different. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, his current projected release date is September 2044.

Bankman-Fried is actively seeking clemency from U.S. President Donald Trump, pointing to recent high-profile pardons, including that of former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao of Binance. He has also claimed that his prosecution was politically motivated, alleging retaliation from an “anti-crypto” Biden administration while continuing to appeal his conviction.

What Ellison’s Release Really Signals

Ellison’s early release underscores how cooperation, restitution efforts, and conduct credits can materially influence outcomes in complex financial crime cases. It also highlights the contrast between cooperating defendants and those who contest charges through trial.

For the crypto industry, her release does not close the FTX chapter. Instead, it serves as a reminder of the long-term legal, regulatory, and personal consequences that followed one of the most dramatic collapses in financial history.