🔥 Donald Trump Pardons Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao
📰 U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an official pardon for Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the founder of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance.
📢 The decision was published Thursday evening on the official White House website. The statement notes that Zhao “made a significant contribution to the development of digital finance and blockchain technology” and “helped create jobs and foster innovation within the United States.”
💡 Zhao was convicted in 2024 for violating U.S. anti–money laundering laws. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in prison, while Binance agreed to pay a $4.3 billion fine as part of a settlement with the Department of Justice.
🎁 The pardon came as a surprise, as Zhao had served only part of his sentence. Following the announcement, President Trump emphasized that he believes it is “important to support entrepreneurs advancing the digital economy.”
🚀 Soon after the news broke, the BNB token jumped more than 7%, and Bitcoin rose to around $111,000.
💭 In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Zhao thanked the president and said he intends to “continue contributing to the growth of the blockchain industry and financial transparency.”
👀 Binance has not yet issued an official comment on whether Zhao plans to return to a leadership role at the company.