365Crypto
Trump Clears CZ for Comeback
In a shocking twist, former U.S. President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the founder of Binance. The Wall Street Journal first reported the news, citing unnamed sources close to the matter.
From Prison to Presidential Mercy
Zhao pleaded guilty in November 2023 for not maintaining proper anti–money laundering controls at Binance — a violation of U.S. banking law. He stepped down as CEO after the plea and was sentenced to four months in prison in April 2024. CZ was released in September.
Now, Trump’s pardon wipes his record clean. No official statement has been posted on the White House site yet, but Binance confirmed the news shortly after, thanking Trump for his “commitment to making the U.S. the crypto capital of the world.”
Speculation Turns Real
Rumors of CZ’s pardon had been circulating for weeks. Betting markets even tracked rising odds after Zhao quietly removed the “ex-@binance” tag from his social media bio. Political insiders hinted that Trump had been “leaning toward” a pardon since early October.
What’s Next for Binance?
CZ still owns a large share of Binance, even after his exit. The pardon could open the door for his return — though regulatory scrutiny may follow. Trump has previously pardoned other crypto figures, including BitMEX’s Arthur Hayes and Silk Road’s Ross Ulbricht.
(Note: AML stands for Anti-Money Laundering, a legal framework to prevent illicit financial activities.)
