In a provocative statement, laced with sarcasm, Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, the co-founder and former CEO of Binance, suggested that President Donald Trump and Bitcoin’s (BTC) creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, could be the same person. This came in the wake of a presidential pardon granted to CZ, as announced by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The pardon was described as an exercise of President Trump’s constitutional authority, aimed at addressing charges brought against Zhao by the Biden Administration during its crackdown on the crypto sector. Binance Founder Links Trump To Bitcoin’s Creator CZ’s comments followed a statement from President Trump, who remarked, “Let me just tell you that he was somebody that, as I was told, I don’t know him, I don’t believe I’ve ever met him … he had a lot of support, and they said that what he did is not even a crime.” Related Reading: HYPE Soars Beyond $40 Following Robinhood Listing: What’s Next For Hyperliquid’s Price? CZ later took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), acknowledging Trump’s comment about not having met him, adding, “It would be my honor someday. President Trump and Satoshi. Might be the same person.” In 2023, the founder of the crypto exchange Binance served a four-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges related to anti-money laundering (AML) violations, and he was released in September 2024. Concerns Raised By Democratic Critics Despite their statements, some critics from the Democratic Party have pointed to investments between YZi Labs and the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial (WFLI) as a potential conflict. Related Reading: Volatility Loading: Dogecoin Eyes Explosive Path To $3 Trump has been a skeptic of cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin (BTC). However, since his presidential campaign last year, he has shifted towards supporting pro-crypto regulations, which have contributed to the growth and adoption of digital assets in the country. Featured image from Bloomberg, chart from TradingView.com
The following article is adapted from The Block’s newsletter, The Daily, which comes out on weekday afternoons.
Waters said the pardon is a result of the Binance founder's lobbying to Trump, his family, and World Liberty Financial.
BNB has seen a 5.5% price jump following the White House announcement that Binance co-founder has been pardoned by US President Donald Trump, leading some analysts to suggest that a new leg up might be around the corner. Related Reading: Crypto Market Records ‘Particularly Robust’ Q3 Performance With 16% Active Trader Growth – Report US President Grants Pardon To Binance Founder On Thursday, the White House revealed that US President Donald Trump had pardoned Binance co-founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, two years after pleading guilty. In an official statement, the White House’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said that the US President “exercised his constitutional authority by issuing a pardon for Mr. Zhao, who was prosecuted by the Biden Administration in their war on cryptocurrency.” Leavitt stated that “In their desire to punish the cryptocurrency industry, the Biden Administration pursued Mr. Zhao despite no allegations of fraud or identifiable victims.” In 2023, Zhao pleaded guilty to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) violations while being the CEO of Binance. As part of his plea deal, he stepped down from his position in the crypto exchange and served a four-month prison sentence last year. Additionally, Binance reached a $4.3 billion settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ). The White House press secretary affirmed that “these actions by the Biden Administration severely damaged the United States’ reputation as a global leader in technology and innovation,” declaring that “the Biden Administration’s war on crypto is over.” Notably, there have been rumors that President Trump could grant a pardon to Zhao after January’s pardon of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht. In March, the Wall Street Journal reported that Zhao allegedly had been “pushing” a Binance US deal for a pardon since 2024. However, he quickly denied these claims. In an X post, CZ thanked the Trump Administration, stating that he is “deeply grateful” for the long-awaited pardon and “to President Trump for upholding America’s commitment to fairness, innovation, and justice.” The Binance co-founder also pledged to “do everything we can to help make America the Capital of Crypto.” CZ Pardon Pushes BNB To $1,100 Following the news, BNB saw a 5.5% jump to reclaim the $1,100 mark. The cryptocurrency has recorded a massive rally over the past few months, reaching a new all-time high (ATH) of $1,375 nearly two weeks ago. Altcoin Sherpa highlighted the altcoin’s price action amid the recent market performance. However, he expressed doubt about whether BNB will “continue being the strongest major or not,” at least in the short term. He suggested that Solana (SOL) could have a better performance in the coming weeks, arguing that “both ETH and BNB had incredible runs previously and probably need more time to chill out.” Related Reading: Fetch.AI CEO Offers Reward To ‘Uncover’ Ocean Protocol’s Alleged $120M FET Dump Since last Friday’s correction, BNB has been trading within the $1,050-$1,125 range, failing to break out of the upper level for the past six days. Analyst Open4Profit noted that if the altcoin reclaims the range’s resistance, the price could rally toward its ATH levels and continue its price discovery uptrend toward the $1,500 target. Market watcher CW pointed out that BNB has two key sell walls ahead, one at the $1,180-$1,190 area and another between the $1,200-$1,220 mark, suggesting that the altcoin could face resistance around these levels if the price breaks out. As of this writing, BNB is trading at $1,116, a 10.5% increase in the monthly timeframe. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
On Thursday, President Donald Trump issued a pardon for the former Binance CEO, who previously served four months in prison.
The following article is adapted from The Block’s newsletter, The Daily, which comes out on weekday afternoons.
The pardon could ripple through the crypto market, where Zhao remains an influential figure and Binance still dominates global trading.
Binance Coin (BNB) climbed to a fresh record on Monday, hitting $1,370 after briefly topping $1,355. According to reports, the move came even as the wider crypto market took a heavy blow — a nearly $20 billion wipeout tied to leveraged positions — leaving many tokens under pressure while BNB pushed onward. The token also stood out in the top 20 by market cap by closing the week with a 10% gain. Related Reading: XRP Traders Face Fresh Selling Pressure As Large Holders Move Out BNB Inks New Highs Traders watching price charts pointed to a string of strong moves. After a rally to $860 in July, BNB fell about 14% to $728 and then resumed its rise. It later reached $1,075 before pulling back to $930, and it rode that momentum into the early October peak. During the market-wide sell-off that followed, BNB dipped back toward $855 but then recovered and surged to the current all-time high of $1,375, before easing to around $1,272 in the latest swings. Based on reports, the token has shown repeated cycles of sharp advances followed by manageable declines — a pattern some traders read as an ongoing bull run. #BNB swallowed that dump & made a new ATH binance super cycle. pic.twitter.com/8sihgznGky — Big Wiz ???????????? (@WisdomMatic) October 13, 2025 Traders Spot Parabolic Upswing A number of market voices have described the most recent pattern as parabolic. One prominent trader, posting under the name Big Wiz, said BNB “swallowed” last week’s crash and then went on to print new highs. Charts shared by analysts show steep curves and quick pullbacks, which have been met with buying rather than long-lasting sell pressure. This type of action has led to talk of a “Binance supercycle,” though that phrase is speculative and remains unproven. Some market participants say the rally reflects genuine demand for the token. Others worry that concentrated buying or internal factors could be inflating prices. Speculation And Skepticism Remain Reports have disclosed that not everyone agrees on the cause of the rally. Some investors point to active product launches and community interest on BNB Chain as drivers. Related Reading: Bitcoin Whale Breaks 13-Year Silence, Moves $33 Million To Exchange Others say promotion and market attention could be pushing prices higher without a broad base of support. The claim that BNB is the only top 20 asset to end the week in the green with an 10% rise is a clear data point, but it does not explain the full story behind trader behavior. fudders even try to make this sound like a bad thing? ????????♂️ Please post more of this about #BNB. ???? https://t.co/hOUy6ll4BS — CZ ???? BNB (@cz_binance) October 12, 2025 CZ Sees Strength In BNB Changpeng Zhao, the founder and former CEO of Binance, has commented publicly about BNB’s performance. He has argued that the token’s design, its community, and deflationary aspects support price action. He also suggested that the chatter and fear around BNB have sometimes led to more buying. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView
According to reports, BNB showed unusual strength during a recent market tumble that wiped out nearly $20 billion in liquidations at the peak. The token barely budged at first — slipping roughly 2-3% during the early shock — and later traded above $1,130, gaining over 10% in 24 hours as buyers returned. Related Reading: A 5% Bitcoin Drop In October? History Shows That’s Rare CZ Pushes Back At Doubters Changpeng Zhao, the former Binance chief, answered critics on social media who suggested BNB’s steady price action deserved closer scrutiny. He mocked those raising alarm, using a laugh emoji and urging people to share more examples of BNB’s strength. He also said he was unaware of any affiliated entities buying or selling BNB in recent days and highlighted the community and infrastructure behind the chain as reasons for confidence. According to CoinMarketCap data, BNB’s limited drop put it in the same group as Bitcoin among the top-five coins that recorded minimal daily losses during the liquidation event. That put BNB in a small set of assets that outperformed peers while the market bled. fudders even try to make this sound like a bad thing? ????????♂️ Please post more of this about #BNB. ???? https://t.co/hOUy6ll4BS — CZ ???? BNB (@cz_binance) October 12, 2025 Community And Utility Provide Support Reports have disclosed several practical reasons why BNB held up. The token offers trading fee discounts, which become more valuable when volatility spikes and trading volume rises. Network revenue also climbed with the surge in activity, giving the token real transactional demand beyond speculation. BNB’s deflationary token design was mentioned as another factor that can support price under stress. Interesting how BNB was barely affected at all. pic.twitter.com/xurnb5vr1a — Jason Appleton (Crypto Crow) (@jasonappleton) October 12, 2025 Some observers have pointed out an additional feature: a lack of market maker involvement. CZ reiterated that claim, saying the project does not rely on affiliated trading entities to prop up price, and that the chain’s community and core functions help absorb shocks. Analyst Views And Market Moves Prominent trader Altcoin Sherpa described the token as “insanely strong,” noting that its outperformance was surprising even during a broad market rebound. Market participants took notice when BNB’s intraday loss turned out to be deeper than its modest seven-day decline, suggesting buying interest reappeared at key levels after the worst of the sell-off passed. $BNB is insanely strong, this surprised me a bit seeing the move today. All majors are bouncing a bit but BNB outperformance still confirms that BSC/BNB ecosystem is the place to play for now. pic.twitter.com/cYDbjJerKo — Altcoin Sherpa (@AltcoinSherpa) October 12, 2025 Some figures in the crypto space reported that certain meme-focused tokens plunged as much as 80% during the same period. By contrast, BNB’s deeper dip at one point reached about 17% before it recovered — a pattern that left traders debating whether the move was driven by genuine demand or by the particular structure of the Binance ecosystem. Related Reading: XRP Traders Face Fresh Selling Pressure As Large Holders Move Out Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView
As BNB’s price records a massive 30% rally, the BNB Chain ecosystem also experiences a remarkable performance, fueled by Chinese-themed memecoins launched on the Four.meme launchpad. Related Reading: BNB Flips XRP’s Market Capitalization As Price Hits $1,300 Record High – What’s Next? BNB Chain Momentum Steals Memecoin Spotlight Amid BNB’s run to the $1,300 barrier, the BNB Chain ecosystem is experiencing a memecoin frenzy, with multiple BNB Chain-based tokens gaining significant traction over the past few days. Notably, the ongoing momentum has seen tokens like Palu (PALU), 币安人生 (BinanceLife), 4 (FOUR), PUP (PUP), and CZ’s Dog (BROCCOLI) record massive rallies. According to DeFiLlama data, the BNB Chain-based memecoin launchpad, Four.meme, has overtaken Pump.fun, Solana’s leading launchpad, in daily revenue. In the past 24 hours, Four.meme has gained around $1.4 million in revenue, surpassing Pump.fun’s $885,420. Meanwhile, CoinGecko data shows that the Four.meme ecosystem tokens have surged around 88% to an overall market capitalization of $1.044 billion and a daily trading volume of $963.4 million. Nonetheless, the Solana-based launchpad continues to lead in higher timeframes, with weekly and monthly revenues of $8.34 million and $40.9 million, respectively. Binance co-founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, highlighted the recent memecoin frenzy in the BNB Chain. On Tuesday, CZ acknowledged the “BNB meme szn” on X, affirming, “I didn’t expect this at all.” On-chain analytics platform Bubblemaps declared that the “BNB memecoin szn is real,” noting that over 100,000 on-chain traders bought into the new memecoin frenzy, with 70% of them being in profit. As the platform detailed, 21,000 investors have made over $1,000, while 900 have earned over $100,000 with the leading tokens. Meanwhile, 40 traders have made over $1 million, and one has profited more than $10 million. Can BNB’s Memecoin Season Last? A crypto community member weighed in on how long the ongoing memecoin trend could last and whether it was worth participating in it. According to the X post, the investor considers that the BNB Chain tokens frenzy might continue, arguing that “this time is different.” Following the rapid surge of BinanceLife, which has reached a market cap of $372 million in less than a week, the investor listed multiple reasons why BNB Chain’s memecoin season could last for a while. They argued that “CZ and He Yi won’t let this wave fade easily,” suggesting that they will “likely keep pushing it forward.” The investor pointed out that the ecosystem is more mature and capital is more abundant. Previously launched memecoins “aimed” for a Binance listing, while the new project’s exit path is clearer. “First generate hype through reposts, then launch on Alpha, followed by listing on Aster spot and Binance spot—each step driving upward momentum in a relentless surge,” they explained. Lastly, the investor argued that the rules have changed, as this Memecoin bull run is spearheaded by the Chinese-speaking community, who “stand at the crest of the wave” this time. “Those who embrace change swiftly profit first; Those with biases neither gain nor lose,” they concluded. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
"False news...with with fake/wrong/made-up info and negative narrative," said Changpeng "CZ" Zhao in response to the story.
Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, has found himself at the epicenter of a new controversy following a recent report by the Financial Times regarding his Web3 and artificial intelligence (AI) venture, YZi Labs. CZ Denies Financial Times Report The report suggested that Zhao was planning to open a substantial $10 billion portfolio to outside investors, a claim that has sparked a vigorous denial from the former executive of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. Related Reading: Bitcoin, Ethereum, And XRP In Freefall: What’s Driving The Current Crypto Slump? According to the Financial Times, Ella Zhang, head of YZi Labs, acknowledged strong interest from potential investors, even mentioning that US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins had requested a private demonstration of the fund’s capabilities. The Financial Times report indicated that approximately 70% of YZi Labs’ portfolio consists of digital assets, with more than 50 token proposals reviewed over the summer. However, the former Binance executive took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to vehemently dispute the Financial Times’ claims, labeling the report as “complete false news” filled with what he described as “fake, wrong, and made-up information.” Zhao made several specific assertions in his posts. He stated that YZi Labs is not currently raising an external fund, nor is there any planned demonstration for investors. CZ expressed confusion over the concept of a “demo” for a fund and clarified that there has never been a pitch deck for YZi Labs, nor has the organization pursued any external investment discussions since its rebranding. YZi Labs Not Linked To Binance In his response, CZ further stated that YZi Labs operates independently from cryptocurrency exchange Binance and refuted claims that it was “spun out” of the exchange after his legal troubles with US authorities in November 2023. Addressing regulatory concerns, Zhao pointed out that he has only been cited for a single violation related to the Bank Secrecy Act, which he clarified involved a failure to maintain an adequate anti-money laundering program. He sated: I plead to a single violation of BSA, failure to maintain an adequate ANTI-money laundering program. Contrary to what FT characterized as “money laundering” violations. Related Reading: Why Aren’t Institutions Adopting XRP ‘Massively’? Pundit Answers The former Binance CEO stressed that his legal situation should not be conflated with accusations of money laundering, a distinction he feels is often misrepresented in traditional media. Zhao also noted that the Financial Times had previously attempted to arrange a lunch interview with him, promising positive coverage. After canceling the meeting, he expressed his regret about the situation, suggesting that the resulting article was not the narrative he had hoped for. At the time of writing, Binance’s native token, Binance Coin (BNB), trades above the $1,000 milestone, recording gains of 15% during this month’s uptrend. Featured image from BBC, chart from TradingView.com
“YZiLabs is not raising [an] external fund,” Zhao wrote, adding that “YZiLabs, since rebranding, has not sought a single external investor."
The following article is adapted from The Block’s newsletter, The Daily, which comes out on weekday afternoons.
The firm has reportedly received significant interest from outside investors and may eventually become an externally focused fund.
The $10 billion investment company, which was rebranded from Binance Labs, is open to the possibility of converting into an investment fund
ASTER, the native token of the decentralized perpetual exchange Aster, officially launched last week and immediately made waves across the crypto market. Backed by Yzi Labs (formerly Binance Labs) and carrying the public endorsement of former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the token quickly drew massive attention from traders and investors. Related Reading: Tron Integration Marks Next Phase Of PayPal USD’s Multi-Chain Growth – Details Upon launch, ASTER surged to nearly $1.94, sparking excitement around its potential to rival leading decentralized derivatives platforms. However, the enthusiasm was quickly tested as the token dropped 33% to lows of $1.33 within days, reflecting the volatility often seen in new market entries. Despite this sharp correction, ASTER has since stabilized and recovered to trade around $1.57, showing early signs of resilience. With CZ’s visible support and Yzi Labs’ backing, Aster positions itself as a formidable competitor to Hyperliquid in the decentralized perpetuals sector. The project’s narrative of combining deep liquidity, advanced trading infrastructure, and a strong ecosystem presence is already attracting both retail and institutional attention. Aster’s Setup And Competitive Outlook Top analyst Big Cheds recently shared a technical perspective on Aster, pointing to a bullish signal forming on the 1-hour chart. According to his view, ASTER printed a hammer candle with notable volume at the lower Bollinger Band breach, right near the 50-period simple moving average (SMA). This type of setup often suggests strong accumulation at support levels and can serve as a precursor to a rebound. For traders, the combination of a lower BB breach and hammer formation indicates potential exhaustion of selling pressure and the possibility of renewed upside momentum. The timing of this technical development is crucial. The broader crypto market has entered a volatile phase following aggressive selloffs across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major altcoins. While many tokens are struggling to recover, analysts argue that Aster is carving out a unique position, benefiting from strong institutional backing and favorable technical patterns. This resilience has led some to view ASTER as one of the more compelling short-to-midterm plays in the altcoin market. Beyond technicals, Aster’s fundamentals add weight to this outlook. Positioned as a direct competitor to Hyperliquid, Aster is aiming to capture market share in the growing decentralized perpetuals sector. Backed by Yzi Labs and publicly supported by CZ, its ecosystem growth potential is considerable. Analysts believe that if momentum continues, Aster could see accelerated adoption, supported by both speculative interest and long-term infrastructure development. Related Reading: Crypto Leverage Whipeout: $600M+ In BTC & ETH Longs Liquidated ASTER Price Analysis: Technical Levels To Hold The 1-hour chart of ASTER/USDT highlights the token’s volatile but constructive price action since launch. After an explosive surge to nearly $1.94, the price corrected sharply, retracing to the $1.33 level before finding support. The recent bounce has seen ASTER recover to around $1.49, signaling that buyers remain active at lower levels despite ongoing volatility. The chart shows that ASTER is consolidating just under the 50-period simple moving average (SMA), currently near $1.51. This moving average has acted as both resistance and guidance for short-term momentum, meaning a decisive break above could trigger renewed upside momentum. Conversely, rejection here could lead to another retest of the $1.40–$1.33 support zone. Related Reading: Tron Integration Marks Next Phase Of PayPal USD’s Multi-Chain Growth – Details Candlestick patterns also suggest uncertainty, with repeated long wicks on both ends reflecting tug-of-war behavior between bulls and bears. However, the ability of ASTER to hold above $1.40 during periods of selling pressure indicates resilience. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView
Aster’s native token, ASTER, surged 1,650% in its first 24 hours of trading and reached $0.528, according to platform reports. Related Reading: FalconX Moves 413K Solana Worth $98M – Impact On SOL Price Trading volume for the token in that window was listed at $345 million, and the launch reportedly drew 330,000 new wallets. Rapid User Growth And Liquidity According to on-chain data and platform disclosures, Aster’s total value locked jumped from $660 million to $1 billion shortly after launch. The platform claims total users of 1.848 million, with seven-day new user additions hitting 617,379. Reports show daily figures of 53,332 new users and $1.50 billion in 24-hour trading volume. The debut also included a Binance Alpha listing within hours and new perpetual markets introduced with up to 50x exposure across four assets. Platform income was reported at $466,838 for a day and $49.2 million in total earnings to date. A significant first step for $ASTER on BNB Chain. • $345M traded in 24h • Price reached $0.528 (~1,650%) • 330K new wallets joined • TVL $660M → $1.005B • Platform volume near $1.5B Thanks to our community for the trust and support. We’ll keep focusing on building an open… pic.twitter.com/cgPlwb2FVh — Aster (@Aster_DEX) September 18, 2025 Feature Rollouts And Trading Tools Based on reports, Aster moved quickly to enable spot withdrawals earlier than planned, using BNB Chain with a quoted 30-second processing time. The team activated ASTER/USDT perpetuals with four-times margin and hourly funding rate settlements. The platform also introduced a Genesis Stage 2 scoring program that rewards more than just raw trading volume, aiming to favor what it calls “smart traders.” Top users have been reported to show realized gains greater than $645,000 in early trading sessions. Technical Features And Security Aster has positioned itself as a multi-chain protocol with native support across BNB Chain, Ethereum, Solana, and Arbitrum, removing the need for manual bridging for many flows, according to technical notes. The protocol uses zero-knowledge proofs on its own Aster Chain for trade validation and taps Pyth Network oracles for price feeds. Reports show the platform uses collateral tokens like asBNB and USDF that can be staked to earn yield while remaining active in trading. Related Reading: From $2 Trillion To $400T? CEO Sees Bitcoin Exploding 200x – Here’s More Strong Endorsement Meanwhile, platform data listed $517 trillion in cumulative trading volume and close to $450 million in total TVL. Much of Aster’s surge can be tied to the strong backing of former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao. His public endorsements, where he compared the platform’s liquidity to “Binance level” and praised the team’s execution, have played a major role in drawing attention and capital to the project. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
The move comes as Ethena looks to “expand its presence” on BNB Chain, including supporting new money markets and protocol integrations.
Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has stirred fresh talk that he may be stepping back into a bigger public role at Binance after a sudden change to his X profile and a string of developments around the exchange. Related Reading: Ethereum Bulls Target $8,500 With Big Money Backing The Move – Details Market moves and reports about talks with US law enforcement have fed the chatter, but legal limits remain a central part of the story. Profile Change Sparks Speculation Based on reports, CZ updated his X profile from “ex-@binance” back to “@binance,” a small public tweak that many traders and observers took as a hint he might reengage with the company he founded. The market reacted quickly. BNB, Binance’s native token, climbed and in some feeds was shown near $962.29 on September 17, 2025, as traders pushed prices higher amid the rumors. Binance In Talks With US Justice Department Reports say Binance is in discussions with the US Justice Department about whether to end the three-year compliance monitor that formed part of its 2023 settlement. If those talks succeed, the monitor could be removed earlier than planned. That 2023 deal included a roughly $4.3 billion settlement and conditions meant to strengthen Binance’s controls. Ending oversight sooner would not automatically mean CZ can resume a top executive job, but it would remove one major obstacle cited by industry watchers. Legal Limits Still In Place According to earlier reporting, CZ’s legal agreements tied to the settlement include limits on his ability to run or manage the exchange for a given period. Those restrictions are a hard constraint until they are changed by a court or by an enforcement agency. Because of that, a full operational comeback as chief executive looks unlikely unless formal legal steps are taken to alter the terms. That point has been made repeatedly by legal analysts in the crypto press. Related Reading: XRP’s Biggest Rally Yet? Analyst Projects $20+ In October 2025 Public Moves And Treasury Plans Based on reports, CZ has been talking publicly about building the BNB ecosystem and has floated plans tied to a BNB Treasury effort. Those moves are fueling the sense he is preparing to take on a bigger public role, even if it is not the same as running day-to-day operations. Some market watchers say the profile change could be symbolic — meant to reassure traders and investors — rather than the start of a formal return. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the co-founder of Binance and former CEO of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is reportedly aligning himself with President Donald Trump’s policy initiatives following his recent release from a four-month jail sentence. This shift comes as Zhao seeks to navigate the complexities of his situation in the US in light of his legal challenges, including a formal application for a presidential pardon after serving time for violations related to anti-money laundering laws (AML). Will CZ’s Strategy Result? As reported by Crypto in America, Zhao’s foundation, Giggle Academy, has partnered with American Legion Charities to donate $2 million to create a permanent scholarship for the children of fallen and disabled US service members. Per the report, this initiative is particularly timely, coinciding with Trump’s renewed focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology. Related Reading: Is $1 Dogecoin ‚Inevitable‘? Analyst Cites Perfect Storm Of Factors Zhaos’ scholarship program aims to empower students by providing grants of up to $20,000 and features an annual competition that encourages participants to address pressing societal issues with innovative solutions. This aligns with the Trump administration’s broader objectives, which include bolstering America’s position as a global leader in technology and cryptocurrency while supporting veterans and their families. Recently, the president’s administration approved an $832 billion defense funding bill that includes pay raises and enhanced benefits for service members, further underscoring this commitment. Former Binance CEO’s Pardon Application Gains Traction Industry insiders view Zhao’s “philanthropic initiative” as potentially strategic, suggesting that it could be an attempt to gain favor with the president. “CZ knows what he’s doing,” remarked a crypto executive familiar with the landscape. The executive, who chose to remain anonymous when responding to Crypto in America’s inquiries, further stated: For the US to maintain its status as the crypto capital of the world, it needs strong leadership from its top exchanges and entrepreneurs. Moreover, we need a skilled workforce to drive the future economy. Related Reading: Crypto Founder Reveals What Will Drive Ethereum Price To $10,000 Adding to Binance’s former CEO complex situation in the country, recent speculation has emerged regarding his chances of receiving a presidential pardon. CZ has topped crypto-betting platform Polymarket’s leaderboard as the individual most likely to be pardoned by President Donald Trump in 2025, according to recent polls. This narrative gained momentum after Zhao confirmed on a podcast that he had formally applied for a pardon. This came after a tumultuous year in which he faced significant legal hurdles, leading him to leave Binance and relinquish any role in its operations. When writing, the exchange’s native token Binance Coin (BNB) trades at $782, a gap of over 3% from its current record high of $809 reached two days ago. Featured image from CNBC, chart from TradingView.com
The latest version of the platform uses OneBalance’s chain abstraction toolkit to "eliminate the concepts of ‘chains,’ ‘bridges’ or ‘native gas fees.'"
Financial institutions file SARs when detecting activity potentially connected to money laundering or fraud.
Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, said in a Tuesday podcast interview that he has applied for a pardon from President Trump.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao also commented on memecoins, saying 99.99% of them will fail and that they distract from real innovation.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao also spoke about his conversations with countries on crypto adoption at Token2049.
Zhao's appointment to the Pakistan Crypto Council comes amid the country's larger effort to bolster its blockchain industry and attract international investment.
Co-founders Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo and Samuel Reed previously pled guilty to a range of federal criminal charges.
The following article is adapted from The Block’s newsletter, The Daily, which comes out on weekday afternoons.
Representatives for the Trump family reportedly held talks with Binance to take a stake in the crypto exchange giant's U.S. arm.