CZ Seeks Trump Pardon in Binance-Linked Finance Case

Trump-Era Pardons Spark Hope for Binance Founder

Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the founder and former CEO of Binance, has officially submitted a request for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. The application is rooted in finance-related legal precedent, particularly Trump’s earlier clemency granted to BitMEX executives. Despite his efforts to clear his name, CZ confirmed he has no intention of returning to lead Binance.

Finance Implications Behind the Pardon Request

In a recent interview on the Farokh Radio podcast, CZ revealed that his legal team filed the pardon application two weeks ago. The move came after Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal published reports suggesting he was seeking clemency due to Binance’s alleged ties to the Trump family. Initially denying the reports, CZ later reasoned that formalizing the process made sense given the media attention.

“No felon would mind a pardon,” CZ stated, noting that he remains the only person in U.S. history sentenced to prison solely for a BSA violation. He emphasized that Trump’s past pardons for BitMEX founders created a fair precedent in the realm of finance and crypto regulation.

No Return to Binance, But Global Finance Role Expands

While Zhao is no longer leading Binance, he retains a significant stake in the company. His legal challenges began in November 2023, when he pleaded guilty to a money laundering charge, resulting in Binance agreeing to a $4.3 billion settlement and CZ paying a $50 million personal fine. He also served a four-month prison sentence and is barred from holding any position within Binance.

Since then, CZ has shifted his focus to international finance and policy. He currently advises Pakistan’s crypto council on infrastructure planning and has partnered with Kyrgyzstan’s National Investment Agency to support Web3 and digital finance initiatives.

With Binance at the center of one of crypto’s most high-profile legal cases, CZ’s push for a Trump pardon could signal new boundaries for regulatory forgiveness—and reshape the future role of finance leaders in the crypto ecosystem.

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