CZ Rejects Claims of Pardon from Trump

The founder of Binance, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), and his team stated that there was no payment or political deal behind the presidential pardon granted by former President Donald Trump. CZ's lawyer, Teresa Goody Guillen, firmly denied the recent "pay to play" allegations. Guillen expressed that the claims of a conflict of interest between Binance and the Trump family do not reflect the truth.

Goody Guillen highlighted the transparency of Bitcoin and Blockchain transactions, emphasizing that it would not be possible to conceal such a payment. Allegations regarding the relationship between Binance, World Liberty Financial, and the USD1 stablecoin were characterized as the "stacking of misinformation." Many commentators argue that the pardon, which followed CZ's acceptance of the violation of the Bank Secrecy Act in 2023, has further complicated the situation in the sector.

As discussions continue about the potential outcomes of the pardon, CZ’s previous obligation to pay $4.3 billion in fines and his subsequent four-month prison sentence make the context within the crypto sector significant. This penalty also illustrates how sensitive Binance's relationships with the U.S. are.

In response to the social media inquiry, "Will the $4.3 billion fine be refunded?", CZ stated that he has not yet made a request but mentioned that any potential refund would be directed entirely towards investments within the U.S. This statement attracted attention during a sensitive period when the possibility of Binance re-entering the U.S. market was being discussed.

Additionally, the potential collaborations between World Liberty Financial, in which the Trump family is a partner, and the USD1 stablecoin with Binance are at the center of media discussions. Previously, CZ had denied claims that Binance wrote the smart contract for USD1. Furthermore, some media reports frequently suggest that there are allegations regarding political influence purchasing between Binance and the Trump family.

Goody Guillen argued that all these connections are misinterpreted and claimed that the information in the news lacks solid sources. Some analysts believe that the pardon may accelerate Binance's return to the U.S. market. CZ's stance and statements indicate that the company is willing to rebuild its relationships with the U.S. following the penalty period.