Binance founder CZ asked Trump to pardon money laundering conviction
Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance, applied for a pardon from former President Donald Trump after initially denying reports of seeking one. Zhao stated on a podcast that he “wouldn’t mind” a pardon and confirmed his lawyers filed the application about two weeks ago. His motivation included Trump's prior pardons of BitMEX founders and the belief that if media reports were circulating, he might as well apply officially. Zhao pleaded guilty to a money laundering charge in November 2023, resulting in a $4.3 billion fine for Binance and a four-month prison sentence. Although a pardon would not erase his conviction, it could allow him to take on a management role at Binance.US. Zhao has no intention of returning as CEO but remains a shareholder and is involved in advisory roles in Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan regarding crypto regulation.
