"Trump signed the pardon on Wednesday, according to the Wall Street Journal, marking one of his most controversial decisions since returning to the White House. Advisers said he had recently expressed sympathy for Zhao, describing the Binance founder's case as part of a broader "war on cryptocurrency" waged by the previous administration. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the pardon, saying Trump had "exercised his constitutional authority" to right what he viewed as a politically driven prosecution."
"Zhao, who had pleaded guilty to violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws, was serving a sentence related to Binance's compliance failures. The pardon effectively clears his record and could reshape Washington's stance toward the crypto industry. Rumors had been circulating that former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, better known as "CZ," was under consideration for a presidential pardon this year. According to FOX Business' Charles Gasparino, discussions inside the Trump White House had intensified over whether to pardon Zhao this most recent quarter."
President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Changpeng Zhao, founder and former CEO of Binance, clearing his conviction for violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws. The pardon ends Zhao's sentence related to Binance's compliance failures and restores his legal record. Zhao and allies lobbied for a pardon and reportedly explored partnerships to support the Trump family's crypto ventures. Advisers said Trump viewed the prosecution as part of a "war on cryptocurrency" by the prior administration. White House officials framed the pardon as correction of a politically driven prosecution. The decision could reshape Washington's regulatory and enforcement stance toward the cryptocurrency industry.
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