Trump Pardons CZ: A New Era for BNB and US Crypto Relations

President Donald Trump has officially pardoned CZ, the founder and former CEO of Binance, closing one of the most consequential legal chapters in the history of cryptocurrency. The White House confirmed the pardon today, marking a dramatic reversal for the world’s largest crypto exchange and its embattled founder.

CZ, pleaded guilty in 2023 to violating the Bank Secrecy Act, agreeing to step down as Binance’s chief executive, pay a $50 million fine, and serve four months in federal prison. Binance itself paid a record-breaking $4.3 billion settlement with U.S. regulators, including the Department of Justice, the CFTC, and the Treasury.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that the president “exercised his constitutional authority by issuing a pardon for Mr. Zhao, who was prosecuted by the Biden Administration in their war on cryptocurrency.” She added,

“The Biden Administration’s war on crypto is over.”

The pardon follows months of lobbying efforts by Zhao’s legal and advisory teams and signals renewed alignment between the White House and major players in the digital asset industry. For Binance and the broader crypto market, it represents opportunity, ending years of regulatory pressure and opening the door to a new era of cooperation between global exchanges and U.S. regulators.

Broader Implications: Binance, BNB, and the Market

The pardon could have wide-reaching effects on Binance’s global operations and the broader sentiment surrounding the cryptocurrency industry. Binance may soon regain its ability to operate in the United States, restoring a crucial link between one of the world’s largest exchanges and the world’s largest economy.

BNB, the native token of Binance and the BNB Chain ecosystem, rose roughly 3% in the minutes following the announcement and is currently up ~6% on the day. The announcement is generating optimism in Binance’s long-term viability and a renewed belief that the company can reestablish its U.S. presence.

In recent years, Binance has been one of the most influential backers of World Liberty Financial, the Trump family’s crypto venture. The company helped drive early adoption of USD1, a dollar-pegged stablecoin tied to the platform, and reportedly facilitated one of the largest USD1 investments to date.

With the Biden Administration’s regulatory posture now reversed and other nations following suit with crypto-friendly regulations, many in the industry expect that Binance and other major exchanges will help usher in a period of rapid innovation across stablecoins, yield markets, and the other various key industry sectors.

Lorenzo launched the first-ever USD1 yield product. Learn more:

Our Take

CZ’s pardon is a positive milestone for both the BNB ecosystem and the broader crypto economy. As a team operating dually in the United States and Asia, we have long believed in the importance of global cooperation and regulatory clarity between the East and West.

This is a well-deserved personal victory for CZ and an opportunity for renewed momentum in BNB Chain adoption, especially within the U.S. market. With 2025 being a year of legal barriers lifting and sentiment improving for crypto in the country, builders and users have been able to increasingly focus on innovation and progress, rather than avoiding legal scrutiny.

Today’s pardon is a signal that conditions will continue to improve in this area.

For us and the broader BNB community, the moment embodies closure and renewal, reflecting the resilience of a maturing industry and the possibility of a more unified approach to building global on-chain infrastructure.

With today’s renewed sense of optimism providing a nice spark of bonus motivation for our team, we’re more excited than ever to continue helping shape on-chain finance through pillars of trust, clarity, and opportunity.

Congratulations to CZ, Binance, and the entire BNB Chain family!