Binance Founder Denies Trump Stake Talks, Calls Reports Fabrication

Changpeng Zhao, the former CEO of Binance, has refuted reports that Donald Trump has held discussions with Binance regarding a potential stake in Binance.US. The reports, which surfaced earlier, suggested that Zhao had pushed for a pardon from the Trump administration in exchange for a deal involving Binance.US.

Zhao, who was released from prison last October after serving a four-month sentence for violating US anti-money laundering requirements, took to the social media platform X to deny the claims. He stated that the reports were inaccurate and that he had not discussed any such deal with anyone. Zhao also expressed his disappointment that the reports seemed to be motivated by an attack on both the President and the crypto industry, suggesting that residual forces from the previous administration's "war on crypto" were still at work.

Zhao's response highlighted the extensive efforts made by the media to corroborate the story, with more than 20 people reaching out to him to confirm the alleged deal. He emphasized that while any felon would welcome a pardon, especially given the unique circumstances of his case, the reports appeared to be a fabrication aimed at creating a sensational story. Zhao reiterated his commitment to making crypto great everywhere, including in the US and the rest of the world, and expressed his satisfaction that even the media seemed to acknowledge the need for his pardon.