CZ Slams WSJ Report Linking Binance.US to Trump’s Family Investment Talks

Binance’s Former CEO Denies Allegations of Seeking Presidential Pardon

Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the former CEO of Binance, fired back at a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report that alleged discussions between Donald Trump’s family representatives and Binance.US regarding a potential financial stake. The article suggested that these talks were linked to efforts to secure a presidential pardon for CZ following his guilty plea to violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws. Zhao dismissed the claims as false, misleading, and politically motivated, stating they were an attempt to discredit both Trump and the broader cryptocurrency industry.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), CZ categorically denied any involvement in such discussions, emphasizing that he had not spoken to anyone about a Binance.US deal. He accused the WSJ of constructing a narrative by reaching out to numerous sources in an effort to manufacture a story. 

According to him, over 20 individuals informed him that the WSJ and another media outlet had aggressively pursued leads to connect him with the alleged negotiations. Zhao suggested that the report was part of a broader anti-crypto agenda, rooted in hostility toward the industry from the previous U.S. administration. He framed the article as an extension of ongoing efforts to undermine the cryptocurrency sector, referring to it as the lingering effects of a so-called “war on crypto.”

The WSJ article asserted that Binance reached out to Trump’s inner circle in 2023 as part of a strategy to bolster its U.S. presence. It alleged that World Liberty Financial (WLF), a decentralized finance (DeFi) venture linked to Trump’s family, was considering investing in Binance.US. The report also implicated Steve Witkoff, a Trump advisor and WLF executive, in discussions about a possible partnership. 

Furthermore, it claimed that securing a pardon for CZ was on the table, which could help alleviate regulatory hurdles for Binance’s U.S. operations. The report surfaced as Binance.US navigated a turbulent period, marked by the resumption of USD deposits and withdrawals for American customers and a temporary pause in its legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Despite serving a four-month prison sentence and overseeing a $4.3 billion settlement with U.S. authorities over compliance failures, Zhao maintained that he had never sought a pardon. While acknowledging that any felon would welcome clemency, he pointed out that he was the only individual in U.S. history to be imprisoned over a single Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) charge. He reiterated his focus on advancing cryptocurrency both domestically and globally, stating his commitment to “making crypto great everywhere.”

Zhao has a long history of clashing with the WSJ, frequently accusing the publication of bias against Binance and the broader digital asset industry. In prior instances, he dismissed reports suggesting deeper ties between Binance and Binance.US than publicly disclosed, calling them speculative and based on selectively leaked internal messages. 

He often addressed such claims cryptically, previously posting the number “4” to instruct his followers to disregard fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD). As accusations from mainstream media continue to swirl, Zhao remains vocal in challenging narratives he perceives as attempts to undermine Binance and the wider cryptocurrency movement.

This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.