Changpeng Zhao's Hope for a Presidential Pardon Amid Crypto Support

By: Eliza Bennet

In a significant development for the cryptocurrency community, former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao has expressed his openness to receiving a Presidential pardon from US President-elect Donald Trump. Zhao, also known as CZ, shared his thoughts in an X post on December 2, clarifying that while he has no desire to return as the chief executive of Binance, he would gladly accept a pardon should it be offered by the incoming President.

Zhao's public appeal comes on the heels of John Lilic, a key figure within the Telos protocol, advocating for such a move. Lilic, in his exhortation to President-elect Trump, underscored that reinstating Zhao in a leadership role could greatly boost the cryptocurrency domain's growth. Several prominent figures in the crypto sphere, including Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, have similarly voiced support for this proposition, highlighting Zhao's significant past contributions to the industry.

The former Binance executive's comments emerge during a period of transition in the United States government, coupled with Trump's pro-crypto stance, raising speculations about potential policy directions. Despite Zhao not being a US citizen, his willingness to bolster Trump's digital asset initiatives indicates a global interest in collaborative efforts to advance the sector's innovation and adoption.

Zhao, often regarded as a pioneer in the crypto industry, resigned from his position at Binance in November 2023 subsequent to pleading guilty to money laundering charges in the US. After a four-month imprisonment period concluding in September, he has redirected his focus toward blockchain initiatives and educational projects, alongside AI investments.

Observers within the cryptocurrency community perceive a potential alignment of interests between Zhao's endeavors and any forthcoming regulatory approaches championed by Trump. Nevertheless, while some suggest that Trump might deliberate on an official pardon, there has been no confirmation from the President-elect's team at this juncture. Notably, Trump previously demonstrated his support for the commutation of Ross Ulbricht's sentence, a controversial figure within crypto circles, evidenced by Ulbricht's founding of Silk Road.