Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) is preparing to return to the spotlight after receiving a pardon from US President Donald Trump.
Just hours after the pardon was announced, Zhao posted a statement on social media platform X, saying, “I am grateful to President Trump for today’s pardon and for upholding America’s commitment to justice, innovation, and fairness. We will do everything we can to make America the capital of cryptocurrencies.”
The pardon marks a remarkable comeback for Zhao, who resigned as Binance CEO nearly two years ago after pleading guilty to charges of failing to prevent money laundering. Experts say the decision could pave the way for Zhao to reclaim an active role at Binance and his other ventures.
The Trump administration is known for its policies supporting digital assets. Binance’s support for a Trump-affiliated company’s stablecoin project also drew attention recently. Democrats characterized this collaboration as a conflict of interest, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the pardon “has been thoroughly evaluated from a legal perspective.”
Markets reacted quickly following the pardon. BNB, the Binance ecosystem’s native altcoin, gained as much as 8% following the news. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Zhao’s wealth currently stands at $58 billion.
Binance’s US arm, Binance.US, still has limited operations and is managed independently of the main platform. However, following the amnesty, Binance is reportedly considering restructuring in the US market and considering integration options with its global platform.
“This cycle is largely driven by US institutional investors. Binance may now shift its focus in that direction,” said Markus Thielen, CEO of 10x Research.
Following the pardon, Zhao appears to have begun to reassess his political and global influence. He has met with leaders in countries like Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Pakistan, and serves on blockchain advisory councils in regions ranging from Dubai to Kyrgyzstan. He also supports the decentralized exchange Aster and is working on a new education-focused app.
CZ hinted at a comeback at the Token2049 conference in Dubai, saying, “I’m still young. I can’t play golf all day, I need to be productive.” Changing his social media profile from “ex-Binance” to simply “@Binance” fueled speculation about whether he would return to his CEO role.
However, those close to Zhao believe he is not eager to return directly to the CEO role. “He’s acting more comfortably now,” said David Namdar, a director at BNB Treasury. “I would be surprised if he were to return to the CEO role.”
“I expect Zhao to be more involved in Binance operations after the pardon. A founder’s return usually drives growth and efficiency,” said Cosmo Jiang, a partner at Pantera Capital.
*This is not investment advice.