Binance Token Hits Record High Amid Speculation of CZ Pardon
ByAinvest
Monday, Sep 22, 2025 8:13 am ET2min read
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The BNB token, the fifth-largest by market value, surged over the weekend to reach $1,083 on Sunday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. However, the token retreated on Monday alongside Bitcoin and Ether in a broad market selloff. The record high came against a backdrop of heightened expectations that Zhao would receive a pardon from US President Donald Trump. Zhao, who served a four-month prison sentence in 2024 as part of a $4.3 billion settlement with US authorities, has been seeking a pardon from Trump. The odds of a pardon hit a high of 64% on September 13 before pulling back to 50%, according to data on online betting platform Polymarket [1].
Regulatory developments in the US, which could benefit Binance, were also a factor that helped lift BNB to a record. Patrick Horsman, co-founder of Build and Build Corp., noted that "rumors of CZ’s possible pardon fuel further speculation" [1].
Zhao's potential pardon could have significant implications for Binance. Senator Elizabeth Warren recently pressed the US Justice Department on whether Binance is adhering to its 2023 settlement agreement with federal prosecutors over money-laundering and sanctions violations. The company is said to be moving toward a potential deal with the US Justice Department that would allow it to shed an external compliance monitor [1].
Binance has also been involved in developing a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial Inc., one of Trump’s family ventures, according to a previous Bloomberg News report [1].
Amanda He, chief investment officer at ChainUp Investment, which supports token creation on BNB Chain, stated that "the market believes that a pardon could help CZ, Binance, and BNB clear most regulatory concerns." Additionally, digital-asset treasury companies hoarding BNB tokens are also boosting demand [1].
Currently, around $560 million worth of BNB is held by listed accumulators, comprising 0.4% of the total supply, according to CoinMarketCap data [1].
The BNB token, formerly known as Binance Coin, was created by the world’s largest crypto exchange in 2017 via an initial coin offering. A 2017 white paper for the ICO shows that 80 million tokens, now worth around $83 billion, were allocated to the company’s founding team, which included Zhao. The money raised through that ICO was used to launch the Binance exchange [1].
Zhao is the crypto industry’s richest man, with a fortune that stands at $54.6 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg [1].
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WLFI--
BNB tokens, linked to crypto exchange Binance, reached a record high of $1,083 on Sunday amid speculation that President Donald Trump would pardon Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ. The token surge was driven by expectations of a pardon, which would likely boost the value of the token.
BNB tokens, linked to the crypto exchange Binance, reached a record high of $1,083 on Sunday, September 22, 2025, amidst speculation that President Donald Trump may pardon Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ. The surge in the BNB token's value was driven by expectations of a presidential pardon, which could potentially clear regulatory concerns and boost the token's value [1].The BNB token, the fifth-largest by market value, surged over the weekend to reach $1,083 on Sunday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. However, the token retreated on Monday alongside Bitcoin and Ether in a broad market selloff. The record high came against a backdrop of heightened expectations that Zhao would receive a pardon from US President Donald Trump. Zhao, who served a four-month prison sentence in 2024 as part of a $4.3 billion settlement with US authorities, has been seeking a pardon from Trump. The odds of a pardon hit a high of 64% on September 13 before pulling back to 50%, according to data on online betting platform Polymarket [1].
Regulatory developments in the US, which could benefit Binance, were also a factor that helped lift BNB to a record. Patrick Horsman, co-founder of Build and Build Corp., noted that "rumors of CZ’s possible pardon fuel further speculation" [1].
Zhao's potential pardon could have significant implications for Binance. Senator Elizabeth Warren recently pressed the US Justice Department on whether Binance is adhering to its 2023 settlement agreement with federal prosecutors over money-laundering and sanctions violations. The company is said to be moving toward a potential deal with the US Justice Department that would allow it to shed an external compliance monitor [1].
Binance has also been involved in developing a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial Inc., one of Trump’s family ventures, according to a previous Bloomberg News report [1].
Amanda He, chief investment officer at ChainUp Investment, which supports token creation on BNB Chain, stated that "the market believes that a pardon could help CZ, Binance, and BNB clear most regulatory concerns." Additionally, digital-asset treasury companies hoarding BNB tokens are also boosting demand [1].
Currently, around $560 million worth of BNB is held by listed accumulators, comprising 0.4% of the total supply, according to CoinMarketCap data [1].
The BNB token, formerly known as Binance Coin, was created by the world’s largest crypto exchange in 2017 via an initial coin offering. A 2017 white paper for the ICO shows that 80 million tokens, now worth around $83 billion, were allocated to the company’s founding team, which included Zhao. The money raised through that ICO was used to launch the Binance exchange [1].
Zhao is the crypto industry’s richest man, with a fortune that stands at $54.6 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg [1].
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