BNB News Today: Binance Expands Institutional Offerings Amid Legal Uncertainty Over CZ's Pardon

Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, co-founder of Binance, is navigating a pivotal period for the crypto exchange as it expands its institutional offerings and grapples with the fallout from a Trump-era pardon. Binance recently announced that the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) will now be accepted as off-exchange collateral for trading, a move aimed at enhancing institutional participation in digital asset markets. This development follows Binance's July decision to support tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) like USCY and cUSDO as collateral, signaling a broader commitment to integrating traditional finance into blockchain ecosystems.

The announcement coincides with renewed scrutiny of Zhao's legal status in the U.S. After Binance pleaded guilty to anti-money laundering and sanctions violations in a $4.3 billion settlement, Zhao received a pardon from Donald Trump. Legal experts have questioned the pardon's scope, noting that while it could shield Zhao from federal charges tied to the settlement, it does not absolve him of state-level liabilities in cases like Georgia's 2020 election interference prosecution. A judge recently dropped three charges in the Georgia case, though state charges remain unresolved.

Trump's pardons have drawn mixed reactions, particularly amid his ongoing legal battles. The president has also pushed for a retraction and compensation from the BBC over an edited report, which he claims defamed him. Meanwhile, Trump's administration struck a trade deal with Switzerland, slashing U.S. tariffs on Swiss goods to 15% to align with EU rates. The agreement, praised by Swiss officials, includes $200 billion in planned Swiss investments in U.S. sectors like pharmaceuticals and aerospace.

Binance's strategic pivot extends beyond institutional partnerships. The exchange has seen a surge in tokenized assets, including the launch of mXRP-a liquid-staking token for XRP on the BNB Chain. This product, developed in collaboration with Axelar and Lista DAO, allows XRP holders to earn yield through DeFi protocols while maintaining onchain visibility.

However, BNB's price has dipped below $1,000, with analysts warning of a potential 15% correction as on-chain activity and retail demand wane.

In a separate move, Applied DNA Sciences rebranded as BNB Plus Corp., signaling a full pivot to blockchain-based financial strategies. The company, now led by chairman Josh Kruger, is leveraging its BNB treasury to explore yield-generating opportunities within the Binance ecosystem. While the rebrand has been met with skepticism due to the stock's 98% year-to-date decline, the company claims its dual focus on biopharma and crypto could attract new investors.

The interplay between Binance's institutional ambitions and Trump's legal and trade maneuvers highlights the volatile intersection of crypto and politics. As Binance seeks to solidify its role in onchain finance, Zhao's pardon and the broader regulatory landscape will remain critical factors shaping the exchange's trajectory.