Trump pardons Changpeng Zhao, Binance founder convicted under Biden

Published October 23, 2025 12:15pm ET



President Donald Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the Chinese-born Canadian billionaire founder and majority owner of cryptocurrency exchange Binance.

Binance was investigated in 2021 by the Biden administration regarding allegations of money laundering and tax crimes. The company, alongside Zhao, pleaded guilty in November 2023. Reports have indicated that Zhao was pushing for a presidential pardon for several months.

When asked about Zhao’s pardon, Trump told reporters Thursday afternoon during a roundtable event that he “gave him a pardon at the request of a lot of very good people.”

“I believe we’re talking about the same person, because I do pardon a lot of people. I don’t know. He was recommended by a lot of people,” Trump said.

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