Trump Grants Surprise Pardon to Binance’s Changpeng Zhao
We may earn commissions from affiliate links or include sponsored content, clearly labeled as such. These partnerships do not influence our editorial independence or the accuracy of our reporting. By continuing to use the site you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy.
US President Donald Trump has pardoned convicted Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The move comes after months of lobbying and appeals from Binance and its former CEO, marking a dramatic twist in one of the crypto world’s most closely watched legal battles.
President Trump signed the pardon on Wednesday, although no official announcement has yet appeared on the White House website or in the Federal Register, where presidential pardons are typically published.
A Sudden Turn in the Crypto World’s Most Watched Legal Saga
Zhao pleaded guilty in November 2023 to failing to implement an adequate Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program at Binance, violating the Bank Secrecy Act.
He was sentenced in April 2024 to four months in a US prison and released in September. The presidential pardon now clears his criminal record, allowing him to resume his professional and public activities.
The decision is expected to have ripple effects across the cryptocurrency sector, signaling a potentially more lenient stance toward high-profile crypto executives and shaping the ongoing dialogue about regulation and compliance in the rapidly evolving digital asset space.
Commentaries 
Fill in necessary fields and publish