Michaela
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ in crypto circles, said he was somewhat surprised to receive a pardon President Donald Trump and firmly denied claims that the pardon was linked to any business dealings or personal connections with Trump-affiliated companies, describing such allegations as “categorically false.”
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Key points:
- Binance founder Changpeng Zhao said he was surprised by his pardon from President Trump and denied any business or personal ties to Trump or affiliated companies.
- President Trump described Zhao’s case as politically motivated, while the pardon drew support from the crypto community and criticism from Democratic lawmakers.
- Senators expressed concern the pardon could weaken accountability, citing potential links between Zhao, Binance, and the Trump family’s WLFI platform.
“There is no business relationship between me, Binance, and World Liberty Finance,” Zhao stated in an interview with Fox News. Earlier in the interview, Zhao emphasized that he had never met or spoken with President Trump before or after receiving his pardon in October. He added that his only encounter with Trump’s son, Eric Trump, occurred once at the Bitcoin Middle East and North Africa conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Zhao stated that he was unaware of the timing or likelihood of his pardon, noting that he believes his lawyers submitted the request in April and that he had no insight into the progress of the process.
At a press conference following Zhao’s pardon, President Trump said he does not personally know the Binance founder but was informed that the case against him was politically motivated, framing it as a form of persecution by the Biden administration.
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Following the pardon, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump exercised his constitutional authority in granting Zhao a pardon, noting that Zhao had faced prosecution amid the Biden administration’s cryptocurrency enforcement efforts. Leavitt added that the decision marked “the end of the Biden Administration’s war on crypto.”
“I want to help America become the capital of crypto,” Zhao further stated in the interview. The pardon sparked a divided response, with members of the crypto community hailing it as a victory for the industry, while Democratic lawmakers criticized the move, alleging political corruption on the part of President Trump.
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In an open letter, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Jeffrey Merkley, Chris Van Hollen, Mazie Hirono, Richard Blumenthal, and Jack Reed argued that “the pardon communicates to cryptocurrency executives and other white collar corporate criminals that the law doesn’t matter.” The group is requesting clarification on how President Trump’s pardon of Zhao could impact Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice’s ability to “hold criminals accountable.”
The senators’ concerns are fueled by reports suggesting potential links between Zhao, President Trump, and Binance. Last year, the Trump family launched the decentralized finance platform World Liberty Financial (WLFI), which has been reportedly associated with Binance’s operations. Some accounts indicate that Binance helped develop the code for WLFI’s stablecoin, USD1. Lawmakers argue that Zhao’s presidential pardon may have followed Binance’s alleged provision of a “revenue stream that could be worth tens of millions of dollars annually” to the Trump family.
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MICHAELA
Michaela is a news writer focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain topics. She prioritizes rigorous research and accuracy to uncover interesting angles and ensure engaging reporting. A lifelong book lover, she applies her passion for reading to deeply explore the constantly evolving crypto world.
