On October 23, US President Donald Trump officially pardoned Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, founder of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance, who was convicted of violating anti-money laundering regulations in the US.
This information immediately stirred up the entire crypto market, especially Token related to Binance and President Trump, which skyrocketed just a few hours after the news was announced.
CZ freed after historic sentence
Previously, in late 2023, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) accused CZ and Binance of violating anti-money laundering (AML) laws. CZ later pleaded guilty and agreed to pay a fine of $50 million, while Binance also received a huge fine of $4.3 billion. He resigned as CEO, handing over the position to Richard Teng, who was then head of global markets (outside the US).
In April 2024, a US federal court sentenced CZ to four months in prison, and he fully served the sentence, returning to Dubai at the end of the year.
With the official pardon from President Trump, CZ is now completely free, opening up the possibility that he could return to Binance in the near future.
Community bets on CZ's "return"
The possibility of CZ's return to Binance is becoming the hottest topic in the crypto community.
On Polymarket, the popular decentralized prediction platform, 69% of traders bet that he would return to Binance before December 31, 2025, with a total bet of more than $32,000. Now the number has dropped to 32%.
According to analysts, CZ's return is not only symbolic, but can also reaffirm Binance's leadership position and influence in the context of increasingly fierce competition between global exchanges.
Some investors even believe his return could usher in a “new era” for Binance, with clearer political support from the Trump administration.
CZ sends thanks and pledges to make the US the “crypto capital”
Immediately following the news of the pardon, CZ Zhao thanked President Trump for “upholding America’s commitment to fairness, innovation, and justice.”
He affirmed:
“We will do everything we can to help America become the Crypto Capital and promote Web3 globally.”
Binance's current CEO, Richard Teng, also expressed his gratitude, calling it a “memorable moment to look back on the crypto industry's development journey.”
He believes that CZ's belief in the power of blockchain and financial freedom is the foundation for the entire cryptocurrency ecosystem today.
A Binance spokesperson added to TheStreet Roundtable:
“We thank President Trump for his vision of making the US the crypto hub of the world. CZ not only created Binance but also helped shape the entire global crypto movement.”
Binance and Trump-related Token surge simultaneously
The pardon news sent assets related to Binance and President Trump soaring:
- BNB, Binance's native Token , rose 4.7%, trading around $1,135, at one point hitting a peak of $1,150.
- World Liberty Financial (WLFI) — a Trump- and Binance-backed project running on Ethereum — rose 15.2% to a price above $0.14.
- “4” Token, a memecoin associated with CZ’s “#4” posts on X (Twitter) expressing the spirit of “crypto will never fail”, increased by 44%, trading above $0.13.
This simultaneous growth shows the market's strong belief in CZ's long-term influence, as well as the positive impact of the Trump administration on the crypto space.
Politics change – crypto changes fortunes
During the JOE Biden era, the US government tightened management of the digital asset industry, as demonstrated by a series of lawsuits by the SEC and DOJ.
However, under President Trump, the White House has taken a more open stance towards crypto, encouraging innovation and investment.
The clearest proof is that Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction platform that was once under investigation, is now allowed to operate again in the US after CFTC approval.
Not only that, Polymarket also received a $2 billion investment from ICE - the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), showing the gradual legitimization of the crypto sector in the eyes of the traditional financial community.
Is CZ Really Returning to Binance?
Although there has been no official announcement, many inside sources believe that CZ still holds a secret strategic advisory Vai for Binance, while maintaining close contact with Richard Teng and the management team.
If he does return to leadership — even if it's in an honorary Vai or a senior advisor — it could spark a new wave of confidence in the investor community, while reaffirming Binance's global influence.
As President Trump clearly shows his ambition to turn the US into the center of the crypto economy, the return of CZ — who was once a symbol of financial freedom — could become the “perfect Shard ” for a new renaissance of the digital asset market.
Conclude
The pardon of Changpeng Zhao is not only a personal victory, but also a historic milestone for the crypto industry.
Token like BNB, WLFI, and 4 all reacted immediately, demonstrating confidence in the bright future of the Binance ecosystem and President Trump's growing political influence.
If CZ does indeed return to Binance in the near future, observers believe that this could spark a new wave of growth across the market, bringing crypto closer than ever to the “era of global legitimization and boom” under Trump.
