Ex-Binance chief Changpeng Zhao eyes Presidential pardon, backs Donald Trump’s crypto vision Ex-Binance chief Changpeng Zhao eyes Presidential pardon, backs Donald Trump’s crypto vision
Industry figures like Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson urge Trump to pardon Binance founder Changpeng Zhao.
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Updated: Dec. 2, 2024 at 10:26 am UTC
Web Summit / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr. Remixed by CryptoSlate
Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao has hinted at his willingness to receive a pardon from President-elect Donald Trump.
In a Dec. 2 post on X, Zhao said that while he has no plans to return as Binance’s CEO, he would welcome such a gesture from the President. He stated:
“No wish to be CEO again. But definitely wouldn’t mind a pardon.”
Meanwhile, Zhao also mentioned his willingness to support Trump’s pro-crypto initiatives despite not being a US citizen.
Zhao’s comment follows a public appeal from John Lilic, a leader within the Telos protocol, who urged President-elect Trump to pardon the Binance founder. Lilic said restoring Zhao’s leadership at Binance could accelerate the crypto sector’s growth and maturity.
Lilic said:
“President [Donald Trump] should consider a pardon for [Changpeng Zhao] so he can return to being the CEO of [Binance] and help the crypto industry mature, and realize its full potential. He is also a victim of law fare.”
Notably, several industry leaders, including Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, have voiced similar support for Zhao’s pardon.
Zhao stepped down as Binance CEO in November 2023 after pleading guilty to a money laundering charge in the United States. He served a four-month prison sentence, which ended in September.
Since then, Zhao has announced that he no longer aims to return to his previous role at the crypto exchange. Instead, he plans to focus on blockchain development, AI investments, and his educational initiative, Giggle Academy.
Observers believe that Trump, known for his pro-crypto stance, might consider pardoning Zhao. However, the president-elect has not made an official statement yet.
Notably, Trump previously expressed support for commuting the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road marketplace. Ulbricht’s case remains controversial in the crypto community, with many arguing that his sentence was excessively harsh.
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Oluwapelumi Adejumo
Oluwapelumi values Bitcoin's potential. He imparts insights on a range of topics like DeFi, hacks, mining and culture, underlining transformative power.
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Cardano
$1.20284
Cardano is a decentralized public blockchain and cryptocurrency project and is fully open source.
Binance
Binance is a global cryptocurrency exchange that provides a platform for trading more than 100 cryptocurrencies.
A businessman, politician, and media personality, Donald John Trump served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Changpeng Zhao, popularly known as “CZ,” is a notable figure in the cryptocurrency world, primarily for founding and leading Binance, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume.
Charles Hoskinson, based in Colorado, stands out as a prominent figure in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sphere.