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10/23/2025

President Donald Trump Officially Pardons Binance Founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a pardon for Changpeng "CZ" Zhao — founder of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. The move marks a major turning point not only for CZ personally, but for the entire global crypto industry. Previously, in November 2023, CZ pleaded guilty to failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering (AML) controls at Binance, in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act. He was sentenced to four months in prison.

President Donald Trump Officially Pardons Binance Founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a pardon for Changpeng "CZ" Zhao — founder of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. The move marks a major turning point not only for CZ personally, but for the entire global crypto industry.

Previously, in November 2023, CZ pleaded guilty to failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering (AML) controls at Binance, in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act. He was sentenced to four months in prison and officially stepped down as the exchange's CEO. After completing his sentence in September 2024, CZ kept a low profile, though rumors of a pardon had been circulating for weeks.

Sources say the pardon was signed by President Trump last Wednesday, though no official announcement has yet appeared on the White House website or in the Federal Register. Observers believe the decision could pave the way for CZ to return to a leadership role at Binance, where he remains the largest shareholder.

This is not the first time President Trump has signaled a crypto-friendly stance. He previously pardoned other prominent figures in the space, including the three co-founders of BitMEX — among them Arthur Hayes — as well as Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road who had been serving two consecutive life sentences.

Investors view the move as a positive signal for the crypto community, suggesting the Trump administration may be moving toward a more open regulatory posture on digital assets heading into 2025.