Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao, co-founder of Binance, has spent the past year rebuilding his influence following a four-month prison sentence for violating US Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules. The company paid a $4.3 billion penalty, and Zhao himself faced a $50 million fine. He was also banned from executive roles at Binance. 2025 saw him emerge with government advisory roles. He leveraged his X platform to address claims by the Wall Street Journal of influence-seeking through the Trump family and World Liberty Foundation. He secured a presidential pardon in October 2025 from US President Donald Trump, fueling speculation about his potential involvement with Binance. Zhao’s influence continued as he shifted focus to YZi Labs, the venture arm formerly known as Binance Labs, where he serves as a mentor. The firm has been actively investing in various crypto projects and technologies while navigating regulatory landscapes.