Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder and former CEO of Binance, confirmed on the Farohk Radio podcast that he officially submitted a pardon request to former U.S. President Donald Trump—two weeks prior to the interview. CZ previously denied media reports by Bloomberg and WSJ suggesting he was seeking a pardon but later admitted the coverage pushed him and his legal team to proceed formally. Released in September 2024 after a four-month sentence, CZ paid a $50M fine as part of a settlement with U.S. authorities. He is no longer involved in Binance's management but remains its largest shareholder. Trump previously pardoned the three BitMEX co-founders in March 2025.
