SBF/FTX was also a massive donor (using customer money) to Republicans. They routed that money through Ryan Salame, I guess to avoid appearing to be as unprincipled as they actually were.

The common theme to the donations ("payoff" or "bribe" might be more accurate), whether to D or R was to weaken any push for crypto regulations.

Correct. I think it is fair to say that SBF would rather be associated with Democrats based on how he wanted to hide the donations to Republicans.

I'll bet he's kicking himself now... he made the wrong bet associating himself with Democrats, who let justice take its course despite the donations, when these days Trump will just take a payoff and issue a pardon.

Actually the opposite. SBF was lobbying for crypto regulations. Of course those regulations would benefit FTX as an incumbent.