There are reportedly discussions within the Trump administration about potentially pardoning Changpeng Zhao, CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, who pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in 2023. He was sentenced to four months in prison and a $50 million fine, also resigning from his role as CEO at Binance. Zhao has significant influence remaining with Binance even after these events, as he is the company’s biggest shareholder. Sources close to Zhao have expressed that they believe the case against him lacked sufficient evidence for felony charges or jail time. These discussions about a pardon offer potential opportunities for Zhao’s return to the crypto exchange. 2024 saw a high-profile plea agreement with the US Department of Justice regarding Binance’s AML and KYC practices, leading to CZ stepping down. Binance then paid $4.3 billion in fines as part of the settlement. Zhao also pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility for violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws, but was not imprisoned after serving his four-month sentence in 2024.