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Ex-Binance CEO CZ Claims He Has Not Encountered Trump, Expresses Surprise Over Presidential Pardon
Changpeng Zhao (CZ), co-founder and former CEO of Binance, expressed that he was taken aback by his presidential pardon from Donald Trump, emphasizing that he has never interacted with or conducted business with the US president or his family.
Key Takeaways:
- CZ indicated his astonishment regarding Trump’s pardon, asserting he has never met or engaged in business with the US president or his family.
- He stated that there is no affiliation between Binance and World Liberty Finance, countering speculation about financial connections to ventures associated with Trump.
- The pardon led to political controversy, with Democratic lawmakers accusing it of being part of a “pay-to-play” scheme.
In an interview with Fox News on Friday, CZ mentioned that he had encountered Trump’s son, Eric, only once at the Bitcoin Middle East and North Africa conference held in Abu Dhabi.
“There is no business relationship between me, Binance, and World Liberty Finance,” CZ remarked, rejecting the speculation regarding financial links to the Trump-associated crypto platform.
CZ Claims He ‘Did Not Know’ When Trump Pardon Would Occur
CZ stated that he was not aware of the pardon’s status.
“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 progressed. Then, it happened one day.”
The pardon, issued in October, incited significant political responses. While numerous individuals in the crypto sector perceived it as a symbolic victory for digital asset proponents after years of regulatory challenges, Democratic lawmakers criticized 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), in an interview on FOX News’ Special Report, Zhao Changpeng (CZ) expressed his surprise regarding former President Trump’s pardon and firmly refuted allegations or rumors that he or Binance… pic.twitter.com/YQj0bNF6bz— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) November 8, 2025
During a press conference following the pardon, Trump stated he did not personally know CZ but was informed that the case was “politically motivated.”
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“He had a lot of support, and they said that what he did is not even a crime,” Trump remarked.
The decision has since become a contentious issue in Washington. Representative Maxine Waters accused Trump of a “pay-to-play” arrangement, asserting that the pardon was linked to crypto-related investments directed into Trump-affiliated ventures like World Liberty Financial (WLFI).
Several Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, have called for an investigation, sending an open letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting a review of the pardon process.
Warren’s Lawyer Dismisses CZ Defamation Threat
As reported, the attorney for Senator Elizabeth Warren has rejected CZ’s threat of a defamation lawsuit, asserting that her remarks regarding his criminal conviction were factually accurate and backed by public records.
The conflict originated from an Oct. 23 post on X, where Warren criticized former President Donald Trump’s pardon of Zhao, labeling it as “corruption.”
Zhao’s attorney, Teresa Goody Guillén, requested a retraction, accusing Warren of harming her client’s reputation.
In response, Warren’s attorney, Ben Stafford, stated that any defamation claim would be “without merit,” highlighting that Zhao pleaded guilty to breaching the Bank Secrecy Act by failing to implement an effective anti-money laundering program at Binance.
Stafford clarified that Warren’s post did not assert that Zhao was charged with direct money laundering, only that he violated AML laws – a statement that is “true in all respects,” he noted.
Warren also claimed that Zhao “financed Trump’s stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon,” referencing media reports connecting Binance to the Trump family’s crypto initiative, World Liberty Financial.
Meanwhile, Binance is reportedly looking into options to re-enter the US market following President Donald Trump’s pardon of CZ.
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