Changpeng Zhao, founder and former CEO of Crypto Exchange Binance, hopes to get the grace of President Donald Trump after his release from prison at the end of last year. Zhao, who was better known for his initials with CZ podcast Monday.
“We only submitted after Bloomberg an article and Wall Street Journal The article came out, ”CZ said in a podcast show, referring to two March articles stating that he hopes to get grace in return for business with Trump.” And I was as well as they were writing this article, we could just as well apply. ”
At that time Zhao denied Wall Street Journal's claims that he discussed any business transaction but did not rule out the idea of pardon. “No Felon would pardon, especially if it was the only US history who was once sentenced to a prison sentence for one BSA,” he wrote in X. The BSA refers to the bank secrecy law, which requires financial institutions to help the government prevent money laundering.
Zhao's decision to apply for pardon is also broadly declared last week with the announcement of President's son Eric Trump that his family's Cryptocurrency World Liberty Financial (WLF) has reached a joint venture with Binance and the MGX risk company in AAE. The transaction calls for MGX to use Stablecoine issued by WLF to invest $ 2 billion in Binant. Although the details of the transaction are still unclear, the WLF may be taken to the network to $ 80 million during the year, according to reserves TreasureEstimates.
In 2023, Zhao pleaded guilty that he could not apply anti -money laundering practices in Binance and resigned as CEO. Binance also pleaded guilty to related payments and was forced to pay more than $ 4 billion fines. As a result of the action, Zhao was sentenced to four months in prison, which he worked from April to September.
If Trump decides to pardon Zhao, it would hardly be the first time he uses his pardon. During his first 100 days, the President has given hundreds of people, including several crypto -related criminals and 6th January rebels who threw the Capitol trash.
During his first days of office, Dark Web Drug released Ross Ulbrichti, operator of the Dark Web Drugs Sail, ending with Ulbricht's lifelong prison sentence after he had spent 12 years in prison. In addition, he gave grace to the three founders of Crypto Exchange Bitmex and the CEO of another company, freeing them from probation after he pleaded guilty to violating anti -money laundering laws.
When asked about his thoughts about another Trump presidency, Zhao replied: “This is a good guy to our industry and for all people with criminal charges.”
This story was originally reflected on Fortune.com
