President Trump is reportedly considering pardoning Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, amid ongoing discussions with the White House. A presidential pardon could restore Zhao’s standing in the cryptocurrency industry. The former Binance CEO has served time and paid $4.3 billion in fines after a 2023 money-laundering conviction. President Trump May Pardon Changpeng Zhao According to individuals close to Zhao, the former Binance chief could soon receive a pardon after months of internal discussions at the White House. According to Charles Gasparino, senior business correspondent at FOX Business, discussions between Zhao’s representatives and White House officials have intensified in recent weeks. Gasparino stated on X, “People close to CZ, the former Binance chief ... say discussions inside the White House are heating up on the possibility of a pardon from. Many Trump insiders believe the fraud case against [CZ] was pretty weak, and certainly not something that merited a felony conviction and jail time.” Zhao was one of the most influential figures in the crypto ecosystem. He was convicted of money laundering by the US Department of Justice, served time, and paid $4.3 billion in fines. Zhao remains the largest individual shareholder at Binance, and a presidential pardon could clear the way for a formal return to the exchange he founded in 2017. Trump Leaning Towards Pardon President Trump and several officials in the White House believe the case against Zhao under the previous administration’s crypto crackdown was weak and did not merit prison time or felony charges. Gasparino stated that Trump is leaning towards a pardon, but the administration is worried about the optics of a pardon to Zhao, given the president’s involvement in the digital asset space. The Trump family is deeply involved with various crypto projects through their company, World Liberty Financial. Zhao had revealed in May that he had applied for a pardon from President Trump following his release from prison. However, according to reports, Zhao was denied a pardon at that time. Zhao’s Conviction Zhao’s conviction marked the end of one of the most high-profile cases during the Biden administration’s war on crypto. Prosecutors alleged Binance allowed illicit transactions with sanctioned entities and failed to implement anti-money laundering controls. Zhao pleaded guilty to the charges and stepped down as the CEO of Binance. He also paid $50 million in fines, while Binance paid $4.3 billion. Zhao served a four-month prison sentence in a low-security federal prison in California and in a halfway house. Several individuals have questioned whether the charges against Zhao were warranted. Meanwhile, Trump’s team sees Zhao’s situation as an opportunity to demonstrate a new era of crypto policy. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice
