Binance founder Changpeng Zhao recently disclosed that he sought a pardon from US President Donald Trump following speculation but later denied reports. Zhao, also known as CZ, mentioned in a Farokh Radio podcast episode that his legal team has filed the necessary paperwork for the pardon. He clarified that the application was submitted in response to claims made by Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal in March. The reports suggested that he was pursuing a pardon from Trump amid discussions involving a business deal between the Trump family and Binance.US. Despite initially refuting the reports, Zhao decided to officially apply for a pardon following the media coverage. He cited Trump’s pardon of three BitMEX founders, including Arthur Hayes, as a motivating factor for his application. Zhao pleaded guilty to a money laundering charge in November 2023 as part of a settlement where Binance paid a $4.3 billion fine. He contributed $50 million towards the fine and was subsequently sentenced to four months in prison. As a result, Zhao was compelled to step down as the CEO of Binance. Although a pardon would not erase his conviction, it could potentially enable him to take up a managerial role at Binance.US. Despite being a Binance shareholder, Zhao stated that he has no intention of returning to the CEO position, believing that the team is performing well without his direct involvement. Since his release from prison, Zhao has taken on advisory roles in Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan, focusing on crypto regulation and blockchain implementation.