Trump Pardons Binance Co‑Founder Amid Rival Lobbying
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- Changpeng Zhao said rival US crypto exchanges lobbied against his pardon, fearing Binance would re‑enter the US market.
- President Donald Trump pardoned Zhao in October 2025, more than a year after Zhao completed his four‑month prison term for AML violations.
- Binance.US resumed operations for eligible US users in February 2025, months before Zhao’s pardon was granted.
- Alabama federal court dismissed a 2024 complaint alleging Binance facilitated transfers to terrorist groups.
- Zhao expressed a vision that by 2031 cryptocurrencies will be as invisible as the internet today.
Why it matters: Binance regains a pathway to the US market, boosting its growth prospects, while rival exchanges lose a competitive edge; the court dismissal further clears legal hurdles, paving the way for broader crypto adoption.
