Oct 21, 2025
- Net worth
- $33.0B (source)
- Crimes
- regulatory, money laundering
- Convicted of
- Failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program
- Original sentence
- Four months' imprisonment; $50,000,000 fine (April 30, 2024)
- Time served
- Four months
Aevozer / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Background
Changpeng Zhao (known as "CZ") is the founder and former CEO of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange.
The Case
In November 2023, Zhao pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program at Binance. He was sentenced to four months in prison and a $50 million fine in April 2024.
The Pardon
On October 21, 2025, President Trump granted Zhao a full pardon.
Sources
- DOJ Pardon Warrant
- DOJ Clemency Grants
- Binance founder CZ sentenced (Reuters, April 2024) — original conviction
- Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (AP, Oct 2025) — pardon coverage
- Forbes profile - net worth