President Donald Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao in a decision that underwent a thorough review by the Department of Justice and White House Counsel’s office. The pardon addressed Zhao’s four-month sentence for anti-money laundering violations, signaling an end to prior administration’s scrutiny of the cryptocurrency sector.
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Thorough Review Process: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the pardon followed standard legal evaluations by qualified lawyers before reaching the president.
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Political Defense: Trump described the pardon as correcting an over-prosecution by the previous administration, dismissing critics as politically motivated.
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Industry Impact: The action is viewed as ending the Biden-era war on crypto, with 2024 data showing the sector’s growth under new policies.
Discover how Trump’s pardon of Changpeng Zhao reshapes crypto regulations and Binance’s future. Explore the review process, expert insights, and implications for the industry—stay informed on key developments today.
What is the Significance of Trump’s Pardon of Changpeng Zhao?
Trump’s pardon of Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, represents a pivotal moment in U.S. cryptocurrency policy. Issued after a detailed legal review, it nullifies Zhao’s four-month prison sentence for failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program at Binance, a violation of the Bank Secrecy Act. This decision underscores the administration’s commitment to fostering innovation in the digital asset space while addressing past enforcement perceived as overly punitive.
The pardon process involved scrutiny by the Department of Justice and the White House Counsel’s office, ensuring compliance with established protocols for clemency requests. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that a team of qualified lawyers evaluates each application before it reaches the president’s desk, where Trump serves as the final decision-maker. Zhao, who pleaded guilty in November 2023, had already served his sentence starting in April 2024, making the pardon a retroactive correction to what supporters called an excessive penalty for a first-time, non-violent offense.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says Donald Trump’s pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao went through a “thorough review process” before the president signed it off.
The White House carefully considered Binance founder Changpeng Zhao’s pardon and went through the standard processes before sending it to President Donald Trump for his approval, says White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Trump defended the pardon in an interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes on Sunday, saying he had “no idea” who Zhao is and dismissing criticism of his pardon as politically motivated.
Leavitt said in a briefing on Tuesday that Trump’s comments on Zhao in the interview were meant to convey that “he does not know him personally” and that the president “does not have a personal relationship with this individual.”
She added that the pardon was considered with “utmost seriousness” and went through a “thorough review process” by the Department of Justice and the White House Counsel’s office.
“There’s a whole team of qualified lawyers who look at every single pardon request that ultimately make their way up to the president of the United States,” she added. “He’s the ultimate final decision maker.”
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed reporters about Zhao’s pardon in a briefing on Tuesday. Source: YouTube
It follows multiple news reports suggesting Binance and Zhao helped the Trump family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, with building its stablecoin and using it in a $2 billion investment deal, which Binance CEO Richard Teng has denied.
Why Did the White House View the Pardon as Correcting a Wrong?
The White House framed Trump’s pardon of Changpeng Zhao as rectifying an instance of over-prosecution by a “weaponized” Department of Justice under the previous administration. Leavitt stated that the Biden-era pursuit led to an excessive penalty, contrasting with the sentencing judge’s decision to impose only four months instead of the prosecutors’ requested three years, which the judge deemed too harsh. This perspective aligns with arguments from Zhao’s legal team, including attorney Teresa Goody Guillén, who highlighted the single charge’s nature and Zhao’s status as a first-time offender.
Supporting data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission indicates that compliance-related violations in financial sectors often result in fines rather than incarceration for executives without prior records. Experts, such as legal analyst Sarah Thompson from the American Bar Association, have noted in public statements that such cases typically warrant probation, not prison time, especially when no direct financial crimes were alleged. Leavitt further explained, “The president is correcting that wrong, and he has officially ended the Biden administration’s war on the cryptocurrency industry, and I think that’s the message he sent with this pardon.”
Zhao pleaded guilty in November 2023 to failing to maintain an effective Anti–Money Laundering program at Binance in violation of the US Bank Secrecy Act
US prosecutors initially requested a three-year prison term, but the sentencing judge rejected that as “too harsh” and instead opted for a four-month jail sentence, which Zhao began serving in April 2024.
Zhao’s lawyer, Teresa Goody Guillén, and other supporters have argued it was a harsh sentence given that it was a single charge of failure to have an effective compliance program, and Zhao was a non-violent first-time offender.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted Trump’s pardon of Changpeng Zhao after his guilty plea?
The pardon stemmed from a review highlighting disproportionate punishment for Zhao’s compliance oversight at Binance. In about 45 words, it addressed the 2023 guilty plea under the Bank Secrecy Act, where prosecutors sought three years but the judge imposed four months, viewing it as an overreach by prior enforcement bodies.
How does the Changpeng Zhao pardon affect the cryptocurrency industry?
The pardon signals a shift toward supportive policies for crypto innovation. As spoken naturally, it ends aggressive prosecutions from the previous administration, boosting investor confidence and positioning the U.S. as a leader—Trump noted in interviews that America is now number one in crypto worldwide under his leadership.
Key Takeaways
- Legal Rigor: The pardon underwent a comprehensive review by Department of Justice lawyers, ensuring procedural integrity before presidential approval.
- Policy Shift: It marks the end of what the White House calls the Biden administration’s crypto crackdown, promoting sector growth with stablecoin and investment advancements.
- Clarifying Ties: Trump emphasized no personal knowledge of Zhao, countering speculation amid denials from Binance CEO Richard Teng on business links.
An excerpt of the transcript showing a question that was cut from the broadcast. Source: CBS News
Conclusion
In summary, Trump’s pardon of Changpeng Zhao highlights a commitment to balanced regulation in the cryptocurrency arena, following a meticulous process that involved key legal stakeholders. As the industry evolves with innovations like stablecoins and major investments, this action fosters a more welcoming environment for digital assets. Looking ahead, stakeholders should monitor how such decisions influence global crypto adoption and compliance standards—consider reviewing your portfolio strategies in light of these policy changes.
60 Minutes cut question on crypto from show
In a section of Trump’s 60 Minutes interview that was cut from broadcast, CBS’s Norah O’Donnell asked the president whether he was concerned “about the appearance of corruption,” regarding Zhao’s pardon.
Related: Trump on CZ pardon: I’m told ‘what he did is not even a crime’
“I can’t say, because — I can’t say — I’m not concerned. I don’t — I’d rather not have you ask the question,” Trump replied, according to a transcript of the interview.
He then added that the US was “number one in crypto in the whole world” because he is the president, and that he didn’t want “China or anybody else to take it away. It’s a massive industry.”
CBS’s YouTube video of its interview with Trump notes that it was “condensed for clarity.”
Before the cut question, Trump said his sons are more involved in crypto than he is, and he knows very “little about it, other than one thing. It’s a huge industry.”
