Reports Suggest Trump Administration Considering Pardon for Binance Founder CZ

Reading Time: < 1 minute

According to sources cited by New York Post columnist Charles Gasparino, the White House is reportedly “leaning toward a pardon” for Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the founder of Binance. Zhao pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in 2024 and served a four-month prison sentence.

Sources close to Zhao claim that Trump insiders view the case against him as “pretty weak” and not worthy of a felony conviction. Gasparino reported that a pardon could facilitate CZ’s return to an active role at the crypto exchange, as he remains its largest shareholder.

This development aligns with the Trump administration’s pro-crypto stance, which has included regulatory rollbacks, new legislation, and recent pardons for other crypto figures like BitMEX founders and Silk Road’s Ross Ulbricht.

When contacted, Zhao did not confirm any knowledge of a potential pardon but has previously acknowledged applying for one after seeing media reports.