Trump - Binance.US: Rumors, Denials, and Controversy

On March 13, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that former President Donald Trump's family had been in talks to acquire a stake in Binance.US, the American arm of crypto exchange Binance. Several sources also alleged that Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Binance's founder, had sought a pardon from the Trump administration. CZ swiftly denied the claims on social media.

Trump Family - Binance.US: Is There a Deal?

According to the WSJ, Binance reached out to representatives of the Trump family in 2024 to propose a partnership deal aimed at helping Binance.US re-enter the U.S. market. One option reportedly on the table was Trump taking a stake in Binance.US or conducting transactions through World Liberty Financial (WLFI) — a crypto company backed by Trump that launched in September 2024.

This came amid the backdrop of CZ remaining Binance's largest shareholder despite having stepped down as CEO and serving a 4-month prison sentence in the U.S. in 2024 for anti-money laundering violations. As a result, many speculated that bringing the Trump family into Binance.US could be part of a broader effort to secure political support — and potentially a pardon for CZ.

CZ Speaks Out and Denies the Rumors

After the story spread widely, CZ quickly responded on X (Twitter) on the evening of March 13. He flatly denied the allegations and stated:

"Sorry to disappoint. WSJ got it wrong. I have never discussed any deal involving Binance.US with anyone."

He also took aim at U.S. media, accusing it of deliberately distorting the truth to attack Trump and the crypto industry, and added:

"It's interesting that even the WSJ thinks I deserve a pardon."

Markets React Sharply, BNB Surges

Despite CZ's denial, reports of the Trump family potentially joining Binance.US sent shockwaves through the crypto market. BNB (Binance Coin) quickly jumped from $580 to $613 shortly after the report was published.

Some investors believe that if the Trump family were to actually get involved with Binance.US, it could help the exchange clear regulatory hurdles and accelerate the legitimization of crypto in the U.S. However, many experts also warned that politicizing crypto could increase risk and volatility across the market.

Trump, WLFI, and a New Stablecoin?

Beyond the Binance.US rumors, Bloomberg also reported that Trump and WLFI had held discussions with Binance about developing a USD-pegged stablecoin. How far those talks have progressed remains unclear, but they reflect Trump's growing interest in the crypto space.

Over the past year, Trump has repeatedly signaled support for Bitcoin and digital assets, and launched the TRUMP memecoin ahead of his return to the White House on January 20, 2025.

Could CZ Receive a Pardon?

The key question hanging over all of this is: Could Trump pardon CZ?

CZ was previously sentenced to 4 months in prison for violating the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act — a relatively minor offense compared to other high-profile financial scandals like the collapse of Sam Bankman-Fried's (SBF) FTX exchange.

Some experts believe that if Trump continues to take a pro-crypto stance, a pardon for CZ is within the realm of possibility. That said, there is no evidence of a relationship between CZ and the Trump administration deep enough to make a pardon likely.

Conclusion

Regardless of whether the rumors are true, they have ignited a broader debate about political interference in the crypto industry. If Binance.US were to forge real ties with the Trump family, it could reshape the crypto landscape in the U.S. — but it would also carry significant legal risks.

For now, CZ has categorically denied the allegations and maintained that no deal of any kind exists between Binance.US and Trump. Whether this story will continue to develop or fade as quickly as it emerged, the crypto world is watching closely. 🚀