**Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao Denies Any Connection to Trump Following Presidential Pardon**

Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has firmly denied any personal or political connections with former President Donald Trump or his family, despite recent reports linking them amid his unexpected presidential pardon announced on October 21.

The pardon has sparked significant political backlash and renewed debate over cryptocurrency regulation in the United States.

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### Zhao Denies Personal Ties to Trump

In an interview on “Special Report,” Zhao stated unequivocally, “We have never met. We have never talked.” This statement came shortly after Trump himself confirmed during a “60 Minutes” interview that he does not know Zhao personally.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the pardon as a move that ended the previous administration’s hardline stance against cryptocurrency platforms. However, Zhao refuted this characterization, calling it “completely not accurate.” He clarified, “There’s no deal, there has never been any discussions. It’s as simple as that.”

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### Clarifying the Scope of Interaction with Trump’s Family

While Zhao acknowledged a single meeting with Eric Trump at a Bitcoin MENA conference in Abu Dhabi, he stressed that there was no subsequent financial or business relationship. He labeled broader media reports suggesting otherwise as “categorically false.”

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### Legal Charges and Zhao’s Position

The original charges against Zhao stemmed from an alleged failure to implement a proper anti-money-laundering program in compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act. On this, Zhao expressed a desire to resolve legal matters swiftly, stating, “I do not have anything to debate on the charges.”

He also highlighted the GENIUS Act, introduced during Trump’s administration, as an important step toward clearer rules for digital currencies. Zhao remarked that while previous administrations lacked structure for crypto regulation, “the situation is getting much clearer, and the U.S. is definitely leading.”

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### Mixed Reactions to the Pardon

The presidential pardon was welcomed by some in the crypto industry but criticized by others. Senator Elizabeth Warren accused Binance and Trump of colluding, tweeting that “CZ pleaded guilty to a criminal money laundering charge and was sentenced to prison. But then he financed President Trump’s stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon. He got it.”

Zhao denied these accusations and has signaled his intent to pursue a defamation lawsuit against Warren, arguing that her statements misrepresented the legal facts.

Meanwhile, Binance CEO Richard Teng expressed gratitude for the pardon, calling it a positive sign. Teng stated that the decision reflects a favorable approach to positioning the United States as the “global crypto capital of the world.”

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The recent developments highlight the ongoing complexities and political tensions surrounding cryptocurrency regulation in the U.S., with key figures like Zhao and Binance remaining at the center of the conversation.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/tech/binances-cz-surprised-by-trump-pardon-denies-connections-to-trump-family/