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