Former CEO and founder of Binance, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), is looking for a presidential pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump. CZ spent months serving a prison sentence for violating U.S. anti-money laundering regulations. Now that he is back, CZ has also signed up to become an advisor to the Pakistan Crypto Council.

CZ appeared for an interview with Farokh Radio in which he revealed that his legal team had submitted a clemency application two weeks ago. Referencing the media coverage that prompted the application, CZ said: “If they are writing this article, we might as well just officially apply.” According to The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg in March, CZ was trying to pursue ties with Donald Trump-affiliated crypto ventures as well.

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Why Was CZ in Prison?

Changpeng Zhao was sentenced to four months in prison in 2023. He pleaded guilty to failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering controls at Binance, which is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world. CZ was released back in September of 2024. He continues to hold a significant stake in Binance, and his opinions are still respected in the crypto landscape.

Along with serving time in prison, CZ had to pay a fine of $50 million, whereas Binance had to pay $4.3 billion in penalties. To this day, it is one of the largest corporate settlements in U.S. history.

Future Outlook for CZ

Despite the pardon request, Zhao clarified he is not aiming to return as CEO of Binance. “I’m not really looking to become CEO of Binance again,” he said during the interview. In fact, his pardon request is among a wave of crypto-related pardons under the Trump administration. In January 2025, President Trump pardoned the founder of the Silk Road dark web marketplace, Ross Ulbricht. He also granted clemency to BitMEX co-founders as well as Arthur Hayes. Reports also indicate that FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried may be seeking similar leniency. The pardon appeal is likely to spark debate, especially given Binance’s extensive legal history and ongoing scrutiny of the crypto industry. Sources indicate that Binance executives have been lobbying U.S. regulators for less stringent oversight and may soon launch a Trump-linked stablecoin, USD1. If granted, CZ’s pardon could signal a shifting landscape for crypto regulation and political influence in the U.S.