Changpeng Zhao Refutes WSJ Fixer Allegations

By: Eliza Bennet

Changpeng Zhao, the prominent figure behind Binance, has vehemently dismissed recent allegations made by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) claiming his involvement as a "fixer" for World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a DeFi endeavor linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump's family. The WSJ report accused Zhao of orchestrating international introductions for WLFI, facilitating notable meetings in Pakistan among other locations.

Zhao responded assertively on social media platform X, labeling the article as misleading and suggesting that the publication intentionally contorted facts to suit a specific narrative. He particularly refuted suggestions that he arranged meetings between Bilal Bin Saqib, the leader of the Pakistan Crypto Council, and the WLFI, which allegedly led to Saqib's advisory appointment with the group and the establishment of a memorandum with the Pakistani authorities.

The Binance founder categorically denied these claims, affirming that their acquaintance was independent of his involvement. Zhao declared, "I am not a fixer for anyone. I did NOT 'connect Mr. Saqib with the WLF team.' They had known each other way back, whereas I only met with Mr. Saqib for the first time in Pakistan." He noted that the inaccuracies within the article were not merely isolated errors but symptomatic of a narrative constructed with "negative intentions."

This is not the first altercation between Zhao and WSJ; earlier in April, Zhao dismissed allegations of cooperating against Justin Sun in a deal with U.S. authorities and reports suggesting Trump sought investments in Binance. Zhao conveyed his belief that WSJ employs "Cunningham's Law"—where one seeks correct information by deliberately stating the wrong one—and critiqued traditional journalistic practices that do not align with his outlook. According to Zhao, these narratives might be propelled by anti-crypto interests intending to obstruct the U.S.'s progress as a global crypto hub.