Trump pardons CZ 4️⃣

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has received a pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump, in the latest act of clemency for the crypto industry from the administration.

Author

Stephen Graves
October 23, 2025

📝 What you need to know

U.S. President Donald Trump has pardoned Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, two years after the Binance founder pleaded guilty to violating criminal U.S. anti-money-laundering requirements.

As part of a $4.3 billion settlement, Zhao was forced to step down from his position as CEO of the exchange, as well as pay a $50 million fine. Zhao spent four months in jail as part of the plea bargain, an experience he described as “not fun.” He subsequently lobbied for a pardon from Trump, while dismissing claims that he was attempting to offload Binance.US equity as a quid pro quo as “completely not true.”

Nevertheless, Trump’s political opponents were quick to condemn the pardon, with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) denouncing it as “corruption” in a statement shared with Decrypt.

Trump Pardons Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao After Biden's 'War on Crypto'

U.S. President Donald Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, the White House confirmed to Decrypt.

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💬 Quote of the Day

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“President Trump exercised his constitutional authority by issuing a pardon for Mr. Zhao, who was prosecuted by the Biden Administration in their war on cryptocurrency.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt on President Trump’s pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao

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