- White House intensifies discussions on pardoning Changpeng Zhao’s request.
- The former Binance CEO served four months for Bank Secrecy Act violations.
- Trump family crypto business interests complicate pardon deliberations for CZ.
White House discussions about pardoning former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao have intensified, creating internal debate within the Trump administration. Sources indicate the 48-year-old cryptocurrency executive’s request has sparked concerns about political optics.
Zhao served four months in U.S. prison last year following his guilty plea to a single count of violating the Bank Secrecy Act. The charges centered on inadequate anti-money laundering controls during his tenure as Binance’s chief executive.
The former CEO petitioned President Trump for a pardon in May. Recent reports show deliberations inside the White House have accelerated regarding the request, potentially opening paths for Zhao’s return to Binance, where he maintains the largest shareholder position.
Settlement details and ongoing restrictions
Binance paid $4.3 billion in fines to settle charges and implemented new safeguards preventing bad actors from utilizing its platform. Zhao separately paid $50 million in penalties and agreed to resign from his CEO position.
Some administration insiders believe the case against Zhao did not warrant felony charges or incarceration. Trump’s position remains unclear, though sources close to the matter suggest sympathy toward Zhao’s situation.
Many participants in the cryptocurrency industry view Zhao as unfairly targeted during 2023’s Biden administration enforcement actions against digital assets. Industry observers characterize the prosecution as excessive compared to the actual violations.
A pardon would remove restrictions preventing Zhao from conducting business with regulated investment firms that cannot engage with convicted felons. Binance’s U.S. affiliate could also benefit from the potential removal of state-level business limitations.
Family business ties create complications
The Trump family’s expanding cryptocurrency business interests complicate pardon considerations given Binance and Zhao’s major industry presence. Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal and other Democrats have raised concerns about the timing relative to the Trump family’s crypto dealings.
“There are people in the White House who are worried about the optics and political fallout if Trump pardons someone as important as CZ to the crypto business,” one source with knowledge of internal discussions told the New York Post.
Attorney Tersea Goody Guillen reportedly leads lobbying efforts for the pardon. Goody Guillen, a former SEC staff attorney with cryptocurrency experience, serves as a partner at the Baker Hostetler firm.
Eleanor Terrett, editor of the Crypto In America newsletter, suggests the harsh treatment of Zhao may have resulted from fallout following Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX exchange collapse. Multiple cryptocurrency executives with White House connections share this assessment.
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