Changpeng Zhao has dismissed a Wall Road Journal (WSJ) report suggesting he’s discussing an funding cope with the household of US President Donald Trump in Binance.US, the American division of the worldwide Binance crypto trade.
On March 13, Zhao took to X to refute the claims, calling the article an try to undermine each the US president and the crypto business. He harassed that he had no involvement in any discussions concerning Binance.US.
The previous Binance CEO wrote:
“They in all probability requested a whole lot of individuals to have 20 folks attain out to me. In essence, they tried exhausting to make a narrative to report. Truth: I’ve had no discussions of a Binance US cope with … properly, anybody.
Zhao additionally prompt that lingering anti-crypto sentiment from the earlier US administration performed a task within the report, saying:
“Feels just like the article is motivated as an assault on the President and crypto, and the residual forces of the ‘struggle on crypto’ from the final administration are nonetheless at work.”
On the difficulty of a presidential pardon, the previous Binance CEO acknowledged:
“No felon would thoughts a pardon, particularly being the one one in US historical past who was ever sentenced to jail for a single BSA cost.”
WSJ report
In line with WSJ, President Trump’s household is allegedly exploring an funding in Binance.US.
The report additional claimed that these discussions included the opportunity of a presidential pardon for Zhao, who pleaded responsible to federal violations in late 2023.
Zhao’s plea settlement led to a $4.3 billion settlement for Binance and a four-month jail sentence for him. A presidential pardon may assist clear authorized obstacles for Binance and assist its world growth.
WSJ additionally alleged that the Trump household may channel its funding via its DeFi enterprise, World Liberty Monetary (WLF). Moreover, the report linked Steve Witkoff, a WLF govt and Trump’s advisor on world negotiations, to the discussions.
In the meantime, this report emerges at a time when Binance.US fortunes have tremendously improved within the US. The trade just lately resumed USD deposits and withdrawals for its US prospects and in addition noticed its authorized tussle with the US Securities and Trade Fee (SEC) paused for 60 days.
CZ’s poor relationship with WSJ
Zhao has publicly criticized the WSJ a number of instances for what he claims are false or deceptive reviews about him and Binance.
Zhao responded to a WSJ article alleging nearer ties between Binance and Binance.US than beforehand disclosed. The report was based mostly on leaked Telegram messages and interviews with unnamed workers. In response, Zhao tweeted “4,” referencing his earlier instruction to his followers to disregard “FUD, faux information, assaults, and so on.” This grew to become a meme throughout the crypto neighborhood.
Zhao has persistently accused legacy media retailers, together with the WSJ, of spreading FUD about Binance and the broader crypto business. He has repeatedly urged his followers to ignore such reviews, framing them as sensationalist or biased in opposition to crypto.
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