Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the founder and former CEO of Binance, has confirmed that he has formally requested a presidential pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump. This confirmation came during a May 6 appearance on the Farokh Radio podcast, where Zhao disclosed that his legal team submitted the application approximately two weeks prior. He explained that media reports, particularly from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal, which suggested he was seeking a pardon, prompted him to make the request official. Zhao noted that he "wouldn't mind" receiving a pardon, acknowledging that no felon would turn one down.

This development follows Zhao's 2023 conviction for violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws, which resulted in a $4.3 billion settlement with U.S. authorities. As part of the settlement, Zhao served a four-month prison sentence and was barred from managing Binance.

The timing of Zhao's pardon application coincides with reports of discussions between Binance and the Trump family regarding a potential stake in Binance's U.S. operations. These talks reportedly began after Binance reached out to Trump allies to facilitate the company's return to the U.S. market. While it remains unclear whether a pardon would be a condition for such a deal, the discussions have raised ethical concerns due to the intertwined interests of the crypto industry and the Trump family.

Zhao has denied any direct negotiations with the Trump family, stating that he had no discussions regarding a Binance U.S. deal with anyone. Nevertheless, the convergence of his pardon application and the reported business talks has attracted significant attention, highlighting the complex interplay between politics, law, and the cryptocurrency industry.

In the broader context, President Trump's administration has taken steps to ease regulatory pressures on the cryptocurrency sector, including dismantling a Justice Department crypto unit and pardoning other crypto figures such as BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes. These actions have further fueled speculation about the potential for a more favorable environment for crypto businesses in the U.S.

As of now, it remains to be seen whether President Trump will grant a pardon to Zhao, and what implications such a decision might have for Binance's operations and the broader cryptocurrency landscape.