SafeMoon CEO Braden John Karony Requests Trial Delay, Citing Potential Trump Administration Policy Changes

Braden John Karony, the former CEO of crypto firm SafeMoon, has requested a judge delay his criminal trial, seemingly hoping that the Trump administration's approach

Braden John Karony, the former CEO of crypto firm SafeMoon, has requested a judge delay his criminal trial, seemingly hoping that the Trump administration’s approach to digital assets could result in at least one charge being dropped.

In a Feb. 5 filing in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY), Karony asked a federal judge to push jury selection for his trial from March to April 2025, citing “significant changes” proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission under President Donald Trump.

The SafeMoon CEO’s legal team cited a Trump executive order signed on Jan. 23 exploring potential changes to the country’s regulations on digital assets, as well as a statement from SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce suggesting the commission would consider “retroactive relief” for certain crypto cases.

“Under the current scheduling order in this case, the parties may learn within days or hours of the commencement of trial that DOJ no longer considers digital assets like SafeMoon to be ‘securities’ under the securities laws,” said Karony’s lawyers. “Worse, the parties may learn this during or shortly after a trial, half of whose charges rest on the government’s claim that SafeMoon is such a security.”

SafeMoon CEO’s Feb. 5 filing requesting a new trial date. Source: EDNY

The former SafeMoon CEO was released on a $3 million bond in February 2024 to await trial, while Nagy reportedly fled to Russia after charges were filed. Karony has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Trump DOJ appointees set to move in after Senate confirmation

As of Feb. 7, the US Attorney’s office for EDNY was headed by Durham, appointed by Trump in an acting capacity following the departure of acting US Attorney Carolyn Pokorny. However, the US president said he planned to nominate Joseph Nocella Jr. to take over in the jurisdiction, making the future of crypto criminal cases uncertain.

In the US Attorney’s office for New York’s Southern District, at least one prosecutor suggested authorities intended to scale back crypto enforcement cases. Danielle Sassoon currently heads the offices until the Senate addresses Trump’s replacement pick, Wall Street insider and former SEC Chair Jay Clayton.