Trump Grants Presidential Pardon to Changpeng Zhao: Will He Return to Binance?

Thursday, 23/10/2025 | 16:02 GMT by Tareq Sikder
  • Zhao stepped down after $4.3 billion Binance settlement with US authorities.
  • Earlier pardons include BitMEX founders, Nikola founder, and Ozy Media executive.
Crypto-king - Edited
Changpeng Zhao (Source: PC Tech Mag)

US President Donald Trump has granted a pardon to Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, a White House official confirmed today (Thursday), Reuters reported.

The pardon allows Zhao to return to the business he created. He has served a four-month prison sentence as ordered by a US judge. It remains unclear whether Zhao will actually return to Binance or take a different path in the crypto industry.

Digital assets meet tradfi in London at the fmls25

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that Trump had "exercised his constitutional authority by issuing a pardon for Mr. Zhao, who was prosecuted by the Biden Administration in their war on cryptocurrency."

Binance Ends Multi-Year Misconduct Investigation

Zhao, who founded Binance in 2017, previously stepped down as chief executive when the company reached a $4.3 billion settlement with US authorities. The settlement concluded a multi-year investigation into alleged misconduct at Binance, then the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

Executives Receive Pardons Under Trump Administration

This decision is part of a broader pattern of pardons issued by Trump to executives convicted of crimes. Earlier in 2025, he pardoned the founders of crypto exchange BitMEX over anti-money laundering violations and the founder of Nikola, who had been convicted of fraud. He also commuted the sentence of a former executive of the now-defunct media company Ozy Media.

Binance in Talks with Trump Family Crypto Venture

Binance is reportedly in discussions to list a dollar-pegged stablecoin linked to the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial venture. Representatives of the exchange have also met with US Treasury officials to discuss oversight matters.

While neither Binance nor Zhao have confirmed any business deal, earlier reports indicated that Trump family representatives explored acquiring a stake in Binance.US. Key figures in World Liberty Financial include Donald Trump and his sons, who hold advisory and promotional roles in the project.

US President Donald Trump has granted a pardon to Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, a White House official confirmed today (Thursday), Reuters reported.

The pardon allows Zhao to return to the business he created. He has served a four-month prison sentence as ordered by a US judge. It remains unclear whether Zhao will actually return to Binance or take a different path in the crypto industry.

Digital assets meet tradfi in London at the fmls25

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that Trump had "exercised his constitutional authority by issuing a pardon for Mr. Zhao, who was prosecuted by the Biden Administration in their war on cryptocurrency."

Binance Ends Multi-Year Misconduct Investigation

Zhao, who founded Binance in 2017, previously stepped down as chief executive when the company reached a $4.3 billion settlement with US authorities. The settlement concluded a multi-year investigation into alleged misconduct at Binance, then the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

Executives Receive Pardons Under Trump Administration

This decision is part of a broader pattern of pardons issued by Trump to executives convicted of crimes. Earlier in 2025, he pardoned the founders of crypto exchange BitMEX over anti-money laundering violations and the founder of Nikola, who had been convicted of fraud. He also commuted the sentence of a former executive of the now-defunct media company Ozy Media.

Binance in Talks with Trump Family Crypto Venture

Binance is reportedly in discussions to list a dollar-pegged stablecoin linked to the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial venture. Representatives of the exchange have also met with US Treasury officials to discuss oversight matters.

While neither Binance nor Zhao have confirmed any business deal, earlier reports indicated that Trump family representatives explored acquiring a stake in Binance.US. Key figures in World Liberty Financial include Donald Trump and his sons, who hold advisory and promotional roles in the project.

About the Author: Tareq Sikder
Tareq Sikder
  • 1999 Articles
  • 34 Followers
About the Author: Tareq Sikder
A Forex technical analyst and writer who has been engaged in financial writing for 12 years.
  • 1999 Articles
  • 34 Followers

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