Trump frees CZ from 2023 AML conviction, calling it Biden-era overreach amid Binance’s ties to family crypto ventures.
Zhao quips on X about unmet Trump handshake and jokes the Prez might be Bitcoin’s elusive Satoshi Nakamoto.
BNB spikes 5%, WLFI tokens soar 15%, with bets favoring CZ’s Binance return by year-end.
In a twist that blends White House drama with blockchain banter, President Donald Trump has issued a full pardon to Changpeng Zhao—better known as CZ, the billionaire founder of Binance. The move, announced on October 23, 2025, erases Zhao’s lingering legal shadow from a 2023 guilty plea on anti-money laundering violations. But it’s CZ’s cheeky X response that’s stealing the show: a nod to their “unmet” status and a wild Satoshi Nakamoto quip that’s got the crypto Twitterverse buzzing.
From Prison Gates to Presidential Grace
Zhao’s saga reads like a crypto thriller. In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice nailed Binance with a record $4.3 billion settlement for sanctions breaches, unlicensed money transmission, and AML lapses that allegedly funneled illicit funds tied to everything from drug cartels to terrorist ops. CZ stepped down as CEO, forked over $50 million in fines, and served a modest four-month stint in low-security prison—released in September 2024. Critics slammed it as a slap on the wrist for the world’s largest exchange by volume.
Enter Trump 2.0. Fresh off his 2024 victory, the president—now a self-proclaimed crypto evangelist—signed the pardon amid intense lobbying from Binance insiders and crypto heavyweights. “I don’t know him, I don’t believe I’ve ever met him,” Trump told reporters at a White House roundtable, echoing a sentiment that’s now meme fodder. He credited “a lot of very good people” who insisted Zhao was “persecuted by the Biden Administration” and “not guilty of anything.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt framed it as correcting an “overly harsh” DOJ pursuit, part of Trump’s broader crypto thaw—including an executive order freeing Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht.
The timing? Suspiciously synced with the Trump family’s crypto empire. World Liberty Financial (WLF), the Trump-backed DeFi platform, hosts on Binance infrastructure and has raked in hundreds of millions in token fees. Reports from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg hint at deeper ties: potential stakes in Binance.US, stablecoin collabs, and even a December 2024 meetup in Abu Dhabi between Zhao and Trump ally Steve Witkoff. CZ “sort of” denied direct pardon talks in March, but the dots connect. Democrats cry foul—”pay-to-play on steroids,” per Sen. Elizabeth Warren—while crypto bulls cheer a green light for Binance’s U.S. comeback.
CZ’s X Fire: Honor, Handshakes, and Hidden Identities
Hours after the news broke, CZ fired off his signature blend of humility and humor on X. Quoting Trump’s “can’t believe I haven’t met CZ in person yet” remark (via CoinDesk), he replied: “President Trump said he believes he hasn’t met me yet, which is true. Would be my honor to some day President Trump and Satoshi. Might be the same person. ” The post, laced with prayer hands and a sly-faced emoji, exploded with likes and replies—over 50K engagements in 24 hours.
It’s peak CZ: gracious yet trolling. The “honor to meet” line underscores his deference to power players, a far cry from his 2021 “move to crypto” tweet that tanked Bitcoin. But the Satoshi zinger? Genius. Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, remains crypto’s ultimate ghost—much like Trump’s elusive inner circle. With Trump hawking memecoins and NFTs, and CZ teasing a memoir post-prison, the joke lands as a wink to conspiracy lovers: Is the MAGA maestro secretly the cypherpunk OG? Or just two disruptors who finally align?
Market ripples were swift. BNB surged 5% to $620, WLFI tokens jumped 15%, and Polymarket odds on CZ reclaiming Binance’s throne hit 36% (up from 14%). Zhao vowed to “help make America the Capital of Crypto,” hinting at Web3 advocacy sans exchange shackles.
Crypto’s New Dawn: Pardons, Power Plays, and Punchlines
This pardon isn’t just personal vindication—it’s seismic for the industry. It signals Trump’s administration as a pro-crypto bulwark, potentially fast-tracking stablecoin regs and exchange relaunch. Yet shadows loom: conflict-of-interest probes, Binance’s global scrutiny (from France to India), and the irony of a “persecuted” billionaire now unbound.
As CZ eyes his next chapter—book deal? Binance board seat?—one thing’s clear: In crypto’s wild west, humor is the ultimate hedge. Trump and Satoshi as twins? Maybe not. But in a world of pseudonyms and pardons, who knows? The honor of that someday meeting? Priceless.
Disclaimer: All content published by Crypto Pro Live (CPL) is intended solely for informational and educational purposes. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. While we strive for accuracy and reliability, CPL assumes no responsibility for any financial decisions, losses, or actions taken based on the information provided. Readers are encouraged to conduct thorough research and seek professional guidance before making investment choices.
Nikolai Carter
