CZ’s Comeback: Trump’s Pardon Ignites America’s Crypto Rise

The crypto landscape witnessed a historic moment this week as President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the billionaire founder of Binance. The decision not only clears Zhao’s name but also signals the end of what Trump’s administration has called the “war on cryptocurrency.”

The White House confirmed the pardon on Wednesday, saying the president had exercised his constitutional authority to “correct the overreach of the previous administration.” The move erases Zhao’s 2023 conviction for failing to maintain anti–money laundering controls at Binance, a case that cost the company $4.3 billion in fines and forced CZ to step down as CEO after serving a four-month prison term.

Hours after the announcement, Zhao took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a message that set the internet abuzz: “Deeply grateful for today’s pardon and to President Trump for upholding America’s commitment to fairness, innovation, and justice. Will do everything we can to help make America the Capital of Crypto and advance Web3 worldwide.”

Trump’s Bold Move Shakes the Global Market

The pardon followed months of quiet lobbying and discussions between Zhao’s team and Trump’s circle. It also arrives as Binance strengthens its links with World Liberty Financial, a pro-Trump digital finance project whose USD1 stablecoin is built on Binance’s blockchain and backed by investors from the Middle East.

Crypto markets immediately responded. Binance’s native token BNB surged nearly five percent, Bitcoin rose two percent, and Ethereum followed with a modest gain. The WLFI token, tied to Trump’s crypto venture, jumped over fifteen percent, reflecting the market’s optimism over a renewed crypto-friendly U.S. policy direction.

Praise and Backlash in Washington

While the crypto community hailed the pardon as a victory for innovation, Washington’s response was sharply divided. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren accused the Trump administration of “favoring corporate elites,” while Republican Senator Thom Tillis warned that the move could “undermine regulatory accountability.”

Supporters argued that Zhao’s case was exaggerated by the previous administration’s desire to appear tough on crypto after the FTX collapse. Unlike Sam Bankman-Fried, who was convicted of fraud, Zhao’s charges were regulatory in nature, and Binance has since strengthened its compliance systems to align with international standards.

A New Chapter for CZ and U.S. Crypto Policy

Zhao, currently worth over $85 billion and ranked among the world’s richest individuals, remains Binance’s largest shareholder. With his record cleared, he can now push to restore Binance’s operations in the United States and help drive America’s leadership in digital finance.

For Trump, the pardon underscores his pro-innovation stance and his aim to make the U.S. a global hub for blockchain and Web3 development. For CZ, it marks a powerful comeback, a moment of redemption that may define the next era of cryptocurrency growth.