Former Binance CEO Denies Reports of Trump Holding Talks to Buy Stake in Binance.US
Former Binance CEO, Changpeng Zhao, has refuted claims made by the Wall Street Journal that former President Donald Trump had discussions with Binance to acquire a stake in Binance.US. The report suggested that Zhao had lobbied the Trump administration for a pardon following his guilty plea in 2023 for breaching US anti-money laundering laws.
Zhao, who was released from prison in October after serving a four-month sentence, took to social media platform X to address the allegations made by the WSJ. He stated, “Sorry to disappoint. The WSJ article got the facts wrong.” Zhao further explained that he had not engaged in any discussions regarding a Binance US deal with anyone.
In response to the claims of seeking a pardon, Zhao emphasized, “No felon would mind a pardon, especially being the only one in US history who was ever sentenced to prison for a single Bank Secrecy Act charge.” He suggested that the article may have been driven by an agenda to attack the President and the crypto industry, hinting at lingering sentiments from the previous administration’s stance on cryptocurrencies.
Expressing his commitment to advancing the crypto space globally, Zhao added, “I am always happy to make crypto great everywhere, US and the rest of the world. It’s good to see that even WSJ thinks I should be pardoned.”
The controversy surrounding the alleged discussions between Trump and Binance has sparked debate within the crypto community. As the situation unfolds, Zhao’s denial of the reported talks sheds new light on the dynamics between the crypto industry and political figures.
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