Binance CEO Zhao Surprised by Trump Pardon, Denies Ties to Trump or WLFI
Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao said he was taken aback by the Trump pardon, denying any commercial ties to Donald Trump or World Liberty Finance. He reiterated that he never met or spoke directly to Trump, apart from a brief meeting with Eric Trump at a Bitcoin event in Abu Dhabi. Zhao’s legal team submitted the Trump pardon request in April but received no updates until it was granted in October. President Trump later stated he did not know Zhao personally and was advised the case was politically driven rather than criminal. The Trump pardon removes a major legal overhang for Zhao and Binance, but it does not signal immediate changes to crypto regulation.
Neutral
The Trump pardon removes a key legal overhang for Binance, boosting confidence among exchange users and traders. In the short term, this may reduce perceived regulatory risk and support trading activity across major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. However, since the pardon does not bring immediate regulatory clarity or policy change, its direct effect on Bitcoin’s price is limited. Over the long term, broader regulatory outcomes and market fundamentals will drive price direction. As a result, the pardon’s net impact on Bitcoin is expected to be neutral.