📰 CZ’s Pardon: Inside Binance’s Big Washington Push 🇺🇸💼

Former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s pardon by President Donald Trump followed an intense and well-funded lobbying campaign, according to Politico.

After serving four months in prison for AML violations, CZ’s team reportedly hired Ches McDowell, a Trump Jr. associate, and his firm Checkmate Government Relations, paying $450,000 for one month to lobby for “executive relief.”

Binance also retained Teresa Goody Guillén, a former SEC chair candidate, for legal support — bringing total lobbying spend in 2025 to around $860,000.

Critics, including Rep. Maxine Waters, blasted the pardon as “a massive favor for crypto criminals,” accusing Binance of using money and influence to win political favor.

Trump defended the move, calling CZ’s conviction “a persecution by the Biden administration.”

The episode underscores how crypto, politics, and power are becoming increasingly intertwined in Washington — and how Binance is working to rebuild its U.S. foothold under new political winds.

#CZ #Binance #Trump #CryptoPolitics #Washington #CryptoNews

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