On 21 October 2025 President Donald Trump signed a full and unconditional pardon of Changpeng Zhao; it became public on 23 October 2025. [1][2][3]
The document
The Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney published the grant, which lists one case: United States v. Zhao, 23CR00179RAJ-001. [1]
Scope. The document names only that case. It does not mention Binance's own plea agreement, other regulatory resolutions, or foreign or civil litigation. This is a reading of the text, not legal advice. [1]
Statements
- White House. Said that Zhao was prosecuted by the Biden administration in its "war on crypto" and that the war is over. [4][2]
- Zhao. Thanked President Trump on X for "upholding America's commitment to fairness, innovation, and justice" and said he would help make America the "Capital of Crypto". [5]
- Critics. Twenty-seven House Democrats, including Sean Casten, condemned the pardon. [6] The Wall Street Journal, as relayed by Wikipedia, reported that Binance spent about US$800,000 on lobbying related to the pardon and other policy issues and that a lobbyist reached Trump through an introduction by Donald Trump Jr.; the original is paywalled and unverified here. [7] [verification needed]
- Trump. On 31 October 2025 Trump said on 60 Minutes that he did not know who Zhao was, via BBC/CBS as relayed by Wikipedia. [7] [verification needed]
More perspectives are collected in Public reception of Changpeng Zhao.