CZ Comments on Biden’s Pardon Decision: “Wouldn’t Mind a Pardon”

Binance CZ Donald Trump

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Hongji Feng

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Hongji Feng

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Hongji is a crypto and tech reporter. He graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a Bachelor's and a Master's. He has previously interned at HTX (Huobi Global),...

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December 2, 2024

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Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) weighed in on President Joe Biden’s controversial decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, using a cryptic X post on Tuesday.

Earlier, John Lilic, CEO of Telos, took to X to propose that President-elect Donald Trump should pardon CZ, suggesting it could pave the way for his return as Binance CEO and bolster the crypto industry’s development.

CZ replied on Tuesday, stating, “No wish to be CEO again. But definitely wouldn’t mind a pardon.”

Changpeng Zhao: “Always Happy to Help”

Another comment proposed that president-elect Trump should appoint CZ to lead a cryptocurrency division, to which CZ responded, “Not US citizen etc. But always happy to help where I can.”

In April 2024, CZ admitted guilt to violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws.

His legal troubles stemmed from allegations that Binance, under his leadership, had facilitated illicit transactions.

These allegations culminated in a four-month prison sentence for CZ and a personal fine of $50 million.

The exchange he founded, Binance, faced an even heftier penalty, with fines totaling $4.3 billion.

Zhao ultimately served 118 days of his sentence, benefiting from federal guidelines that allowed for an early release in September.

CZ’s Binance Blockchain Week 2024 Appearance

Following his release, CZ’s next steps in the cryptocurrency space have been closely watched.

With a personal fortune exceeding $60 billion, Zhao’s decisions are critical not only for Binance but also for the broader market, including the performance of Binance Coin (BNB).

CZ made his first public appearance since prison at Binance Blockchain Week 2024 in Dubai.

Speaking candidly about his experience, he reflected on his sentence, describing it as subjective.

“If you ask one side, they will say, no, it’s [four-month prison sentence] too easy. If you ask the other, my side, they would be like, too harsh,” Zhao remarked.