President Donald Trump has issued a full pardon to Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, founder of Binance, effectively concluding nearly a year of political contention surrounding one of the most closely watched cases in the cryptocurrency sector.
The pardon follows CZ’s four-month prison sentence, served after Binance pleaded guilty to violating U.S. anti-money-laundering regulations. According to reports, the decision came after extensive lobbying, private meetings, and direct appeals over an eleven-month period, ultimately persuading Trump to intervene.
Sources indicate that CZ actively worked to strengthen ties between Binance and the Trump family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, which launched earlier this year. Binance reportedly supported the initiative with liquidity infrastructure and backend tools.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the pardon reflects Trump’s view that the previous administration’s actions represented a “war on cryptocurrency” and marks an end to that policy approach.
Previously, Binance was barred from operating in the U.S., necessitating the relocation of much of its business offshore. The pardon now potentially opens a path for the company’s return to the American market, a move reportedly under careful planning for several months.
Binance engaged lobbyist Ches McDowell earlier this year to garner political support and emphasize that CZ’s prosecution had been exaggerated under the Biden administration. Multiple meetings with Trump campaign officials reportedly influenced the president’s decision, framing the case as politically motivated.
Neither CZ nor Binance has issued public statements following the pardon. Sources indicate CZ has been advised to remain silent until formal regulatory approval is received to resume U.S. operations.
