CZ Breaks Silence: ’Never Met Trump,’ Stunned by Controversial Crypto Pardon
Binance's ex-CEO drops bombshell revelation amid political firestorm.
The Unlikely Pardon That Rocked Crypto
Changpeng Zhao—better known as CZ—just threw cold water on rumors of backroom dealings with former President Trump. The surprise presidential pardon, allegedly tied to Zhao's 2023 legal troubles, now looks even murkier.
No Handshakes, Just Headaches
'We've never even been in the same room,' CZ told reporters, raising eyebrows across Wall Street and Washington. The disclosure comes as Trump campaigns on a pro-crypto platform—while conveniently forgetting to mention he'd never actually met the industry's most infamous exiled billionaire.
Regulators Spinning Faster Than a DeFi Token
SEC Chair Gary Gensler reportedly choked on his morning oat milk latte upon hearing the news. Meanwhile, crypto traders are placing bets on whether this pardon was dumber than SBF's 'risk management' strategies.
One thing's clear: in the circus of crypto politics, the clowns still handle the money.
CZ Says He ‘Did Not Know’ When Trump Pardon Would Happen
CZ claimed that he was unaware of the pardon’s progress.
“I did not know when or if it was going to happen. I believe my lawyers submitted the petition in April, and it took a few months. There was no indication of how far it went along. Then, it happened one day.”
The pardon, granted in October, triggered strong political reactions. While many in the crypto community viewed it as a symbolic win for digital asset advocates after years of regulatory hostility, Democratic lawmakers condemned it as an act of political favoritism.
CZ surprised by Trump's pardon,denying any business links to the TRUMP family
On November 7 (EST),n an interview on FOX News'Special Report,Zhao Changpeng (CZ) said he was surprised by former President Trump's pardon and firmly denied allegations or rumors that he or Binance… pic.twitter.com/YQj0bNF6bz
During a post-pardon press conference, Trump said he didn’t personally know CZ but was told the case was “politically motivated.”
“He had a lot of support, and they said that what he did is not even a crime,” Trump said.
The decision has since become a flashpoint in Washington. Representative Maxine Waters accused Trump of a “pay-to-play” arrangement, claiming the pardon was tied to crypto-related investments funneled into Trump-affiliated ventures such as World Liberty Financial (WLFI).
Several Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, have called for an inquiry, sending an open letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi urging a review of the pardon process.
Warren’s Lawyer Rejects CZ Defamation Threat
As reported, Senator Elizabeth Warren’s lawyer has dismissed CZ’s threat of a defamation lawsuit, insisting her comments about his criminal conviction were factually correct and supported by public records.
The dispute stems from an Oct. 23 post on X, where Warren criticized former President Donald Trump’s pardon of Zhao, calling it “corruption.”
Zhao’s attorney, Teresa Goody Guillén, demanded a retraction, accusing Warren of damaging her client’s reputation.
In response, Warren’s attorney, Ben Stafford, said any defamation claim WOULD be “without merit,” emphasizing that Zhao pleaded guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act by failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program at Binance.
Stafford clarified that Warren’s post did not claim Zhao was charged with direct money laundering, only that he broke AML laws – a statement “true in all respects,” he said.
Warren also alleged that Zhao “financed Trump’s stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon,” citing media reports linking Binance to the Trump family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial.
Meanwhile, Binance is reportedly exploring ways to re-enter the US market following President Donald Trump’s pardon of CZ.
