Binance Founder Zhao Seeks Pardon From Trump For Money-Laundering Violations

Bibhu Pattnaik

August 10, 2025

Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, is seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump for money-laundering violations.

What Happened: Zhao has been out of prison for two years and is now pushing for a pardon, backed by a sophisticated influence operation.

Zhao’s campaign is notable even in a time when many seeking pardons are paying substantial fees to lobbyists and lawyers with connections to President Trump.

The implications of Zhao’s pardon could be significant for the cryptocurrency industry. Zhao and his team are employing a variety of strategies that have previously helped wealthy interests secure preferential treatment from President Trump.

Publicly, Zhao has praised the president’s crypto policies in podcast interviews. Behind the scenes, his team has hired lobbyists with ties to Trump’s circle.

As per the report by The New York Times, Binance has also fostered a business relationship with the Trumps, striking a deal that profited the family’s own crypto firm, World Liberty Financial.

Also Read: Trump’s Crypto Firm Allegedly Received Covert Aid From Binance Before Founder’s Pardon Plea

Both Zhao and Binance pleaded guilty to serious crimes in 2023, admitting that a flawed compliance system allowed illicit actors to move money on the platform. However, the Trump administration appears to be considering the possibility of granting clemency.

The White House has received pardon applications from both Zhao and Binance, and according to sources, these applications are currently under review.

The potential political fallout of a pardon for Zhao has been discussed among Trump’s advisors.

Democrats are worried that Trump will grant the pardons to reward Binance for directing business to World Liberty Financial, thereby paving the way for a more profitable partnership. Zhao has dismissed claims that Binance’s dealings with World Liberty are related to his pardon push.

Why It Matters: The pardon of Zhao could have far-reaching implications for the crypto industry. If granted, it could set a precedent for other crypto industry leaders facing similar charges.

Additionally, it could potentially influence the Trump administration’s future policies on cryptocurrency. The pardon could also impact Binance’s business dealings, particularly its relationship with World Liberty Financial.

Wall Street Says BUY GOLD, But... - Ad

Is Elon's Empire Crumbling? - Ad

Better Than Bitcoin? (Top Crypto for Less Than $1) - Ad

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Former Food Network star Paula Deen announced Friday the abrupt closure of the Savannah restaurant that launched her to fame with its menu of fried chicken, banana pudding and other indulgent Southern dishes.

Dan Bongino Stunned by FBI's Recent Corruption Findings: 'I'll Never Be the Same After Learning What I've Learned'

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has expressed deep concern over the discoveries of government corruption and weaponization.

The Surprising New Date That Could Fuel the AI Boom

The Surprising New Date That Could Fuel the AI Boom - Ad

Trump's economic blueprint is about to go live, and the deadline is fast-approaching. A new federal plan could legally unlock $100 trillion in U.S. resources... and one $10 stock could lead the charge. Former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson explains how to act now, before this hits the headlines.

BlackRock's New ETF BILT Bets On $68 Trillion Boom, But Most Investors Are Missing It

BlackRock debuts first actively managed infrastructure ETF (BILT), highlighting growing interest in this sector. Offers diversity and growth potential.

Why AGCO Stock Is Surging After Q2 Results

AGCO reports strong Q2 results, exceeding expectations in a challenging agricultural market. Shares rose as 2025 guidance was raised.

Investing Legend Hints the End May Be Near for These 3 Iconic Stocks

Investing Legend Hints the End May Be Near for These 3 Iconic Stocks - Ad

Futurist Eric Fry say Amazon, Tesla and Nvidia are all on the verge of major disruption. To help protect anyone with money invested in them, he's sharing three exciting stocks to replace them with. He gives away the names and tickers completely free in his brand-new "Sell This, Buy That" broadcast.

Wallis Annenberg, billionaire philanthropist who backed arts, science and other causes, dies at 86

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wallis Annenberg, the billionaire philanthropist who supported the arts, science, education and animal welfare causes over decades in Los Angeles, died Monday, her family said.

Pilot arrested on child sex abuse material charges after landing at San Francisco airport

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A pilot was arrested aboard a Delta Air Lines flight and federal agents took him into custody from the cockpit after the plane landed at San Francisco International Airport.

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming - Ad

While headlines scream "Tesla is doomed"...Jeff Brown has uncovered a revolutionary AI breakthrough buried inside Tesla's labs. One that is helping AI escape from our computer screens and manifest itself here in the real world all while creating a 25,000% growth market explosion starting as early as October 23rd.

Cathie Wood's Wednesday Moves: Ark Dumps Bitcoin-Heavy Block Again, Doubles Down On AMD's AI Chip Rally (CORRECTED)

Editor’s Note: The headline has been corrected from the original version to ensure accuracy and clarity

Mark Cuban Says This Trump Administration Move Is 'One Of the Dumbest….'

Mark Cuban slams Commerce Dept's plan to charge patent holders a percentage of their patent value as 'dumbest idea in business history'.

Gold Is Being Reintroduced Into the Monetary System

Gold Is Being Reintroduced Into the Monetary System - Ad

While the media focuses on political scandals, inflation and coming up with ridiculous acronyms "TACO"... Smart money is tracking a far bigger shift: a gold revaluation is quietly underway. Garrett Goggin, CFA, says this could trigger 100X moves in select miners - and he's identified four with the biggest upside.

Trump's $200 Million White House Ballroom Addition Plan See Experts Cry Out For More Guardrails: 'There Aren't Any Checks And Balances'

Experts warn Trump's plan to add a $200 million ballroom to the White House risks sacrificing history for haste. Funding and oversight are also concerns.

Nebraska congressman Flood gets an earful over Trump's tax cut law in raucous town hall

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Rep. Mike Flood has gotten an earful during a public meeting in Lincoln aimed at discussing his support for the massive that passed Congress and was signed into law by President Donald Trump.

Major Investors Bet Big on This "Unlisted" Stock

Major Investors Bet Big on This "Unlisted" Stock - Ad

When the former Zillow exec whose first venture sold for $120M starts a new company, people notice. No wonder the VCs behind Uber and eBay also backed Pacaso. Their platform sells fractions of premier properties, rewriting a $1.3T market. And it works, earning over $110M in gross profit to date.

Mark Zuckerberg Wore $99,000 Purple Watch During A Meta Product Launch And This How It Gets Its Vibrant Color

Zuckerberg steals the show at Meta's product launch by wearing a limited edition De Bethune watch worth $99,000. His growing collection includes other high-end brands like Greubel Forsey and Richard Mille.

Thermo Fisher, Baker Hughes And IQVIA Holdings Are Among Top 10 Large Cap Gainers Last Week (July 21-July 25): Are The Others In Your Portfolio?

Medpace, ICON, and West Pharma led last week's large-cap rally, driven by strong earnings beats and upgraded guidance.

What's inside Elon's building in Memphis will shock you

What's inside Elon's building in Memphis will shock you - Ad

Inside Elon Musk's Memphis site lies a supercomputer built to power the world's first superhuman AI. It could make Elon a trillionaire - and new millionaires, too. With just $500, you could get in before the September 1st funding window closes.

BYD Surpasses Tesla In Fortune Global 500 List Amid Sales Slump For Elon Musk's EV Giant

BYD surpassed Tesla on Fortune Global 500 list, with BYD at #92 and Tesla at #102. BYD's growth in global markets may be a factor.

Peloton Tumbles After Q4 Beat — Can Cost Cuts, Restructuring Offset Slumping Growth?

Peloton (PTON) reported Q4 results, beating EPS & sales estimates. Expects $2.4-$2.5B revenue in 2026 & 2.72-2.73M paid subscriptions in Q1.

Weiss Gold Veteran Makes Shocking New Call

Weiss Gold Veteran Makes Shocking New Call - Ad

Weiss expert Sean Brodrick went out on a limb last year and declared a historic event would send the yellow metal to $3,150. People laughed at him at the time, but he was off by just two days. Now, Sean has a shocking new prediction for gold ... and reveals a little-known way to get ahead of this bull market.

How Afghan women under Talban rule are coding their way to a brighter future

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — One after the other, the opportunities vanished. Like so many other Afghan women, Sodaba could do little but watch as her country’s new Taliban government imposed a stranglehold on women’s lives.

UK transport secretary demands answers from air traffic control chief after flight disruption

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s transport chief has summoned the head of the country’s air traffic control operator to explain the problem that grounded and diverted dozens of flights Wednesday.

Wall Street Says BUY GOLD, But...

Wall Street Says BUY GOLD, But... - Ad

While markets wobble, gold keeps smashing records-and banks say it's just beginning. Goldman urges "buy gold" to hedge trade wars; JPMorgan plans $6,000 an ounce and just took delivery of $4 billion in bullion. Yet past bull runs saw 13x-1,000x bigger gains without buying more gold.

Musk says he plans to sue Apple for not featuring X or Grok among its top apps

Billionaire SpaceX, Tesla and X owner Elon Musk says he plans to sue Apple for not featuring X and its Grok artificial intelligence chatbot app in its top recommended apps in its App Store.

New York man charged with cyberstalking a family member of slain UnitedHealthcare CEO

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A New York man has been charged with cyberstalking a family member of Brian Thompson, allegedly leaving threatening voicemails that expressed glee about the killing within hours of the fatal shooting, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.

Is Elon's Empire Crumbling?

Is Elon's Empire Crumbling? - Ad

Jeff Brown - the legend who called Tesla and Nvidia early - says Elon is about to launch a $25T AI revolution. This isn't another chatbot. It's real-world AI that could 14X the impact of ChatGPT. But after October 23rd, it may be too late.

Business News Digest

AP Business Digest

Apple Surges After-Hours As Q3 Earnings Crush Estimates, iPhone And Services Lead Growth

Apple Inc. shares jumped 2.42% in after-hours trading on Thursday, reaching $212.59, after the iPhone maker delivered third-quarter results that significantly exceeded Wall Street expectations.

Better Than Bitcoin? (Top Crypto for Less Than $1)

Better Than Bitcoin? (Top Crypto for Less Than $1) - Ad

Over the past 15 years, Bitcoin has outperformed stocks, bonds, and every other asset you could've bought. 2025 is already shaping up to be another banner year, with Bitcoin recently hitting a new all-time high. But there's a better way to profit from this new crypto rally. Most people don't know about it... and yet it's returned over 1,000% in 4 months. This could be the #1 way to invest in crypto right now.

Cardinal Health, Ziprecruiter And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Tuesday

U.S. stock futures are down, with earnings from Cardinal Health Inc. and Sea Ltd. to watch. ZipRecruiter Inc. beats expectations.

Vietnam automaker Vinfast to build factory in India, eyeing growth in Asia

THOOTHUKUDI, India (AP) — Vietnam’s Vinfast on Monday inaugurated a $500 million electric vehicle plant in southern India’s Tamil Nadu state, part of a planned $2 billion investment in India and a broader expansion across Asia.

The Surprising New Date That Could Fuel the AI Boom

The Surprising New Date That Could Fuel the AI Boom - Ad

United Grounds All Mainline Flights Across US Over Tech Glitch, Says Expect 'Additional' Delays

United Airlines grounded all mainline flights nationwide due to a critical tech glitch on Wednesday, highlighting growing concerns over aging aviation infrastructure and operational vulnerabilities across the airline industry.

Vance Predicts Numerous Indictments Following Trump's Treason Accusations Against Obama

In the wake of President Trump's allegations of treason against former President Barack Obama, Vice President Vance has predicted a wave of indictments.

Investing Legend Hints the End May Be Near for These 3 Iconic Stocks

Investing Legend Hints the End May Be Near for These 3 Iconic Stocks - Ad

Jim Cramer Prefers This Financial Stock Over Brighthouse Financial

Cramer looks at Brighthouse Financial, Hecla Mining, Universal Technical Institute, and Grindr, which all closed lower on Monday.

A US judge says arrested Haitian businessman and former presidential hopeful will remain in custody

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A federal immigration judge in Miami ordered on Thursday that wealthy remain in custody in the United States, where he is held over accusations of supporting .

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming - Ad

Align Technology Stock Tumbles Wednesday: What's Going On?

Align Technology shares are tumbling in Wednesday's after-hours session after the company reported worse-than-expected results for the second quarter and issued soft guidance.

Trending Now