During an interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin, host of CNBC's "Squawk Box," Binance founder Changpeng CZ(CZ) gave his first relatively complete account of his past imprisonment and the significant changes in his mindset and life after receiving a pardon from US President Trump during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Only after being pardoned did I feel "true freedom".
CZ revealed that he received a pardon from President Trump about three months ago (around October 2025), but he did not feel "complete freedom" until the pardon officially took effect. He said that although he was no longer restricted in his actions after his release, the label of "felon" had long brought him heavy psychological pressure, as if he had been carrying an invisible burden.
"Now that this burden has finally been lifted, I am a truly free man,"CZ said. This change is more psychological, making him feel unprecedentedly relaxed and at ease. He also expressed his "deepest gratitude" for Trump's pardon, but admitted that the entire pardon application process was like a "black box" to him, handled entirely by his lawyers. He still doesn't know the actual decision-making process or who made the final decision.
Denies having any personal or business dealings with the Trump family
In response to speculation about his relationship with Trump or the Trump family, CZ repeatedly clarified in the interview that he has never met or spoken with Trump privately. He stated that the closest he came was when he saw Trump speaking at the "Board of Peace" event in Davos.
He also explicitly denied any business dealings with the Trump family, emphasizing that "I have absolutely no business relationship with the Trump family."
Prison life is "almost exactly like in the movies."
Speaking of his actual prison experience, CZ described that period as "extremely cruel and awful," almost identical to what is depicted in movies. He recalled that on his first day in prison, he had to undergo a rigorous physical examination, including standard procedures such as stripping naked, squatting, and coughing, which made him feel extremely uncomfortable and embarrassed.
His first cellmate was a double murderer who had already served about 12 years and would have to serve another 18 years. CZ emphasized that he was placed in a regular cell and received no special treatment.
The sentencing result was unexpected.
CZ admitted that he never expected to actually go to prison, because in the history of the US legal system, there has never been a case where someone has been sentenced to imprisonment solely for violating the Bank Secrecy Act. Similar cases usually end with a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) or home confinement.
He had originally expected the worst possible outcome to be 6 to 12 months of home confinement, so the final sentence of 4 months in prison was "very unexpected" to him.
New direction after leaving Binance
Since leaving Binance, CZ is currently focusing on new roles and plans, including operating free education and investment platforms, and discussing the possibility of tokenization of national assets with "about a dozen governments." He is also optimistic about the prospects of the crypto market, believing that Bitcoin has the opportunity to enter a so-called "supercycle" in 2026.
