Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao has hinted at his willingness to receive a pardon from President-elect Donald Trump.
In a Dec. 2 post on X, Zhao said that while he has no plans to return as Binance’s CEO, he would welcome such a gesture from the President. He stated:
“No wish to be CEO again. But definitely wouldn’t mind a pardon.”
Meanwhile, Zhao also mentioned his willingness to support Trump’s pro-crypto initiatives despite not being a US citizen.
Zhao’s comment follows a public appeal from John Lilic, a leader within the Telos protocol, who urged President-elect Trump to pardon the Binance founder. Lilic said restoring Zhao’s leadership at Binance could accelerate the crypto sector’s growth and maturity.
Lilic said:
“President [Donald Trump] should consider a pardon for [Changpeng Zhao] so he can return to being the CEO of [Binance] and help the crypto industry mature, and realize its full potential. He is also a victim of law fare.”
Notably, several industry leaders, including Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, have voiced similar support for Zhao’s pardon.
Zhao stepped down as Binance CEO in November 2023 after pleading guilty to a money laundering charge in the United States. He served a four-month prison sentence, which ended in September.
Since then, Zhao has announced that he no longer aims to return to his previous role at the crypto exchange. Instead, he plans to focus on blockchain development, AI investments, and his educational initiative, Giggle Academy.
Observers believe that Trump, known for his pro-crypto stance, might consider pardoning Zhao. However, the president-elect has not made an official statement yet.
Notably, Trump previously expressed support for commuting the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road marketplace. Ulbricht’s case remains controversial in the crypto community, with many arguing that his sentence was excessively harsh.
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