Changpeng Zhao’s Triumphant Return: Reclaiming Crypto Influence After Presidential Pardon

Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, faced significant legal challenges. Yet, he has orchestrated a remarkable comeback. His journey from conviction to a renewed position of **crypto influence** captivates the industry. This article explores how CZ regained his prominence, even amidst legal restrictions. It details his strategic moves and their profound impact on the crypto landscape.

Changpeng Zhao’s Resilient Comeback from Legal Setbacks

Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao recently concluded a four-month prison sentence. He faced charges for violating US Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules. Binance paid a substantial $4.3-billion penalty. Zhao himself paid a $50-million criminal fine. Furthermore, he received a lifetime ban from holding an executive position at the exchange. Despite these restrictions, **Changpeng Zhao** quickly resurfaced. He took on various government advisory roles. He also moved memecoins with his X posts. Zhao even fended off claims by The Wall Street Journal. They suggested he was courting influence through the Trump family. In mid-September 2025, Zhao updated his X profile. It changed from “ex-@binance” to “@binance.” Then, on October 23, US President Donald Trump granted him a **presidential pardon**. These actions kept him relevant. They led directly to his pardon.

Zhao continues to benefit from Binance’s performance. He reportedly still owns about 90% of the company. In February, he posted a screenshot. It suggested 98% of his personal crypto investments are in BNB. Forbes estimates his net worth at roughly $87.2 billion. Zhao, however, insists, “I don’t have that much.” He stated in November 2024 he would not return to the exchange’s leadership. But his pardon changed the circumstances. His potential involvement with **Binance** is now a different discussion. Binance did not respond to inquiries by press time. Richard Teng currently leads the centralized exchange. Zhao has shifted his focus to YZi Labs. This is the venture arm formerly known as Binance Labs. He took on a mentoring role after its January rebrand.

Strategic Investments: YZi Labs’ Expanding Reach and Binance’s Future

YZi Labs actively deploys capital across crypto, AI, and biotechnology. It led the November 2024 seed round in Astherus. This platform later became Aster, a derivatives platform. YZi Labs recently increased its exposure to Ethena. Ethena issues the synthetic dollar USDe. USDe climbed into the top 25 cryptocurrencies. It boasts over $10 billion in circulation. The firm has also backed infrastructure projects. These include Digital Asset and its Canton Network. It also supports US-based 10X Capital’s BNB Treasury initiative and Aspecta. Its most recent major commitment is $1 billion. This supports builders on the **BNB Chain**. This strategic capital deployment highlights CZ’s continued influence. It shapes future market directions. He remains a powerful figure, even without a direct executive role at **Binance**.

The Memecoin Phenomenon and BNB Chain’s Ascendance

Solana dominated memecoins in 2024. However, 2025 saw **BNB Chain** challenge Solana’s lead. This shift began on February 11. BNB Chain’s roadmap reaffirmed its backing for the meme ecosystem. Two days later, Zhao shared a long X post. He spoke about reuniting with his dog, Broccoli. He added he was not launching a memecoin. However, he suggested the BNB Foundation might reward top tokens. This post triggered significant BNB memecoin speculation. It briefly pushed PancakeSwap’s volume ahead of Solana’s main meme trading venues. By October, BNB Chain’s meme momentum continued. Network fees topped the industry at points. The chain climbed to second place in several core activity metrics. Its Four.meme launchpad even outpaced Solana’s Pump.fun. This lasted for a few days in new token creation. This demonstrates CZ’s powerful **crypto influence** through subtle social media cues.

Navigating Political Waters: The Presidential Pardon Quest

An early sign of Zhao’s openness to clemency came in December 2024. He posted that he “wouldn’t mind a pardon” from Trump. In March 2025, The Wall Street Journal reported on discussions. Members of the Trump family reportedly held talks with Binance. They aimed to acquire a stake in its US arm. The report suggested a connection with Zhao’s pursuit of a **presidential pardon**. Zhao rejected this report. He claimed no conversations about a Binance.US deal occurred. The dispute received widespread coverage. It intensified scrutiny. Many questioned if business interests and legal relief were intertwined. Zhao called the article “motivated as an attack on the President and crypto.” The tension escalated in May. The Wall Street Journal published another story. It alleged Zhao acted as a “fixer.” He supposedly introduced activist Bilal Bin Saqib to World Liberty Financial. This was a crypto venture associated with the Trump family. Zhao called it “another hit piece.” He stated he met Saqib for the first time on the same trip. He claimed no role in any introductions.

Around that time, Democrats in the US Senate acted. They asked federal officials for information. Reports suggested Zhao sought a pardon. Meanwhile, **Binance** engaged in high-profile political and business interactions. In a podcast appearance that month, Zhao admitted his lawyers were preparing a formal pardon application. He claimed he moved forward after media reports surfaced. This intricate dance between legal strategy and public perception defined his pursuit of a pardon.

Global Crypto Influence and Persistent Legal Challenges

Despite his US felony conviction, Zhao continued as a global crypto statesman. Several governments involved him in discussions. They designed their digital asset strategies. Malaysia was one of the first in 2025. They sought his input. After talks with officials from Kuala Lumpur and the United Arab Emirates, Malaysian authorities considered updates. They aimed to refine their crypto regulatory approach. Discussions with Zhao and his team informed these updates. Pakistan went further. In April, the government formally appointed Zhao as a crypto adviser. The country explored modernizing its financial sector. It sought insights from major industry players. This approach avoided relying entirely on restrictive oversight. Soon after, Kyrgyzstan appointed him as a strategic adviser. The country expanded its involvement in state-backed digital assets. By October, Kyrgyzstan launched a stablecoin on **BNB Chain**. It confirmed BNB would join Bitcoin in its national crypto reserves. This demonstrates his significant **crypto influence** on a global scale.

However, legal challenges persisted. In June 2025, Zhao asked a Delaware bankruptcy court to dismiss FTX’s lawsuit. The complaint sought to recover almost $1.8 billion. This stemmed from Binance’s 2021 share-buyback deal. The FTX estate alleges the transaction was fraudulent. It claims customer assets funded it. Zhao argued the claims stretched US law too far. He contended “every pertinent part” of the deal took place offshore. His filing called FTX’s theory “nonsensical.” He accused the company of trying to blame him for Sam Bankman-Fried’s crimes. FTX also cited Zhao’s November 2022 X posts. These posts concerned selling Binance’s FTX Token (FTT) holdings. FTX claimed they triggered the bank run. This exposed its insolvency. Zhao countered that his posts only revealed a “fraudulent enterprise.” He argued it was already collapsing under its own weight.

Aster’s Rise and Hyperliquid’s Concerns in the BNB Chain Ecosystem

Aster rapidly emerged in September 2025. It quickly challenged Hyperliquid’s dominance in onchain derivatives. The platform claimed about $2 billion in total value locked (TVL). This occurred by September 18-19. It instantly positioned itself as a **Binance**-aligned rival to Hyperliquid. But this momentum brought controversy. DefiLlama publicly delisted Aster’s data in early October. They cited concerns about data integrity. The data platform quietly relisted the exchange. However, it stated the issues remained unresolved. The tension between Hyperliquid and Binance intensified. This happened during a recent $19-billion liquidation event. Hyperliquid’s Jeff Yan accused exchanges of under-reporting liquidation data. He suggested this softened the appearance of severe market conditions. His post specifically named Binance. It implied centralized platforms were not honest about risk.

Zhao quickly responded on X. He stated, “While others tried to ignore, hide, shift blame, or attack competitors, the key **BNB Chain** ecosystem players (Binance, Venus, and more) took hundreds of millions out of their own pockets to PROTECT USERS.” With a **presidential pardon** in hand, Zhao is no longer defined by a conviction. He is also free from a sentence. His detractors argue a pardon does not erase the actions that led to it. His supporters claim the case against him was political overreach. They say it was not criminal misconduct. He has already recentered himself in the ecosystem. He backs fast-rising BNB Chain projects. He also advises governments on crypto strategy. Zhao’s newfound freedom will signal his next moves. It will determine if he and Binance deepen their US presence. Alternatively, they might continue focusing on the broader BNB DeFi ecosystem.