Trump reportedly weighing pardon for Binance founder Changpeng Zhao
White House discussions intensify over potential pardon for CZ as insiders argue his fraud case was weak and politically driven.
Key Takeaways
- Trump is reportedly leaning toward pardoning Binance founder Changpeng Zhao.
- A pardon could restore CZ’s standing in the crypto industry, where he remains Binance’s largest shareholder.
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President Donald Trump is considering pardoning Changpeng Zhao, the founder and former CEO of Binance, amid ongoing White House discussions, according to financial journalist Charles Gasparino.
People close to Zhao, known in the crypto world as CZ, say the former exchange chief could soon receive a pardon following months of internal debate at the White House.
Several Trump insiders believe the case brought against Zhao under the previous administration’s crypto crackdown was weak and did not merit felony charges or prison time. A pardon could clear the path for CZ’s potential return to Binance, where he remains the company’s largest shareholder.
Sources familiar with the discussions say some in the White House are concerned about the optics of a pardon, given Trump’s growing business ties to the crypto sector. However, the president is said to be leaning in favor of the move as part of his broader reassessment of the Biden-era enforcement actions targeting crypto firms.
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