While the former CEO of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange agreed to a significant $4.3 billion fine on behalf of his company, he was forced to resign and received a four-month jail sentence. CZ was released from prison in September 2024, but this presidential pardon expunges his record of a criminal conviction.
Now, CZ has come forward to state that he has no business links with the Trump family or their cryptocurrency project, World Liberty Financial. “That’s completely not accurate. There’s no deal, there has never been any discussions. It’s as simple as that,” the Binance leader said.
CZ also addressed his decision to plead guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act, including failure to implement adequate anti-money-laundering measures at Binance. The prominent crypto founder said, “the best way to confront the problem and solve it head-on.”
The former Binance CEO believes that the increased regulatory clarity is an excellent development for the crypto industry. “I think in the last administration, even when I was charged and even when I pleaded guilty, there wasn’t any clear regulatory framework for crypto in the US, so I think now it’s getting much clearer, and [the] US is definitely leading,” CZ added.