Trump Clears Changpeng Zhao, Citing “Unfair Treatment” Under Biden

In a move that has stunned the crypto industry and reignited debate over past regulatory actions, US President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao.

The pardon, signed on Wednesday, was later confirmed by Binance in a statement to Cointelegraph. Speaking at a press conference the following day, Trump said the decision followed “a lot of recommendations” and widespread public support.

“I’ve been told he had a lot of backing and that what he did wasn’t even a crime,” Trump said. “I don’t know him personally, but people told me he was unfairly treated by the Biden Administration.”

Zhao had been serving a four-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to a single violation of the US Bank Secrecy Act. Prosecutors argued that Binance failed to maintain proper anti–money laundering controls, though the case involved no fraud, victims, or direct evidence of illicit activity.

Read More:

CZ’s attorney, Teresa Goody Guillén, praised the presidential decision, calling it “the right outcome for a man who faced punishment for a compliance issue – not a crime.” She emphasized that Zhao’s conviction involved no allegations of fraud or money laundering and that he was the only known first-time offender to ever serve time for such a charge.
“The court found no evidence that CZ knowingly allowed illegal transactions,” Guillén said. “He genuinely believed Binance’s systems were compliant.”

Following the pardon, Zhao expressed gratitude on X, writing that he was “deeply thankful” for the opportunity to move forward and pledging to “help make America the Capital of Crypto and drive Web3 innovation worldwide.”

The pardon may open the door for Zhao to resume work at Binance, from which he stepped down under his plea agreement with US authorities. His reinstatement could mark a dramatic comeback for one of the most influential figures in the digital asset industry.