Overview

• Reporting from Fox Business correspondent Charles Gasparino says internal deliberations have intensified and President Trump is leaning toward granting clemency, though no pardon has been issued.
• Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty in 2023 to a Bank Secrecy Act violation, paid a $50 million personal fine as Binance paid $4.3 billion, and served a four‑month sentence in 2024.
• Zhao confirmed he requested a presidential pardon in May 2025.
• A pardon would erase the felony from Zhao’s record and ease constraints on banking access, U.S. business activity, and travel documents.
• Separate regulatory agreements would still prohibit Zhao from holding a management role at Binance, even if clemency is granted, as some officials warn of political and regulatory backlash.