Former Binance CEO Open to Presidential Pardon After Conviction

Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the former CEO of Binance, has indicated he might welcome a presidential pardon from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump following his recent legal troubles.

Responding to a comment on social media platform X on December 1, Zhao stated he “wouldn’t mind a pardon,” referencing Trump’s upcoming inauguration on January 20 as the 47th U.S. president.

In November 2023, Zhao admitted guilt to charges tied to lapses in Binance’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program as part of a settlement with authorities.

The court sentenced him to four months in prison. While Zhao was released in September, the federal conviction remains on his record, potentially complicating future business ventures.

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The U.S. Department of Justice notes that a presidential pardon wouldn’t erase Zhao’s conviction but could mitigate its impact.

A pardon could ease restrictions tied to the conviction, reduce stigma, and assist with licensing or employment opportunities, even though the record itself would remain intact.

Kosta Gushterov

Kosta has been working in the crypto industry for over 4 years. He strives to present different perspectives on a given topic and enjoys the sector for its transparency and dynamism. In his work, he focuses on balanced coverage of events and developments in the crypto space, providing information to his readers from a neutral perspective.