Trump mulls pardon for Binance founder Changpeng Zhao amid concerns over optics: Fox News

**Trump Considers Pardoning Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao as Cryptocurrency Industry Seeks Regulatory Relief**

Former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a pardon for Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange executive who was released from prison in 2024. According to Fox News, the potential pardon raises significant political optics concerns as Trump navigates his relationship with the digital asset industry.

CZ, who served time following regulatory violations, publicly disclosed in May that he had formally applied for a presidential pardon from Trump after his prison release. The Binance case has been closely watched by the broader cryptocurrency community, including Bitcoin traders, DeFi platforms, and blockchain developers seeking clearer regulatory frameworks.

This development could signal Trump's evolving stance on cryptocurrency regulation and his willingness to support major figures in the digital asset space. The potential pardon comes amid increasing institutional adoption of Bitcoin and growing political attention to cryptocurrency policy. Market participants are monitoring how this decision might impact regulatory approaches toward major cryptocurrency exchanges and influence broader blockchain industry sentiment moving forward.