During a recent interview, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) confirmed that he has filed for a pardon from US President Donald Trump. Indeed, the cryptocurrency exchange founder divulged that he has submitted a formal request from his official legal team when speaking on a podcast this week.
Zhao and the exchange were at the center of a groundbreaking criminal charge from the US Department of Justice in late 2023. He was the CEO of the firm at the time as it pleaded guilty to its role in anti-money laundering violations that led to a $4 billion fine and a four-month prison sentence for the executive.
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Binance Founder Confirms He Is Seeking a Pardon
There are few people who have been as important to the growth of the cryptocurrency sector as Changpeng Zhao. He was at the forefront of the Binance crypto exchange, guiding it to become a global powerhouse. Moreover, after his conviction for his part in the company’s missteps, he paid his price with a four-month prison sentence.
Now, he is once again taking a key role in helping improve the global adoption of crypto. Indeed, he is working closely with nations like Kyrgyzstan to work toward the establishment of their own Bitcoin and crypto reserves. Moreover, the Binance founder has confirmed he has filed for a pardon from US President Trump.
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“I got lawyers applying,” Zhao confirmed on a podcast. “We only submitted after the Bloomberg article and the WSJ article came out. And then I was like, Well, if they’re writing this article, I might as well just officially apply, right?”
Zhao is referencing numerous reports that he had approached the administration about receiving a pardon. Throughout his first 100 days, Trump has not been shy to pardon many, including BitMEX cryptocurrency exchange founders. Therefore, it wouldn’t be shocking if Zhao were to receive the same treatment. The question is, what would that mean for this position in the industry that is surging under the new pro-crypto administration?