Trump Pardons CZ, Accelerates Binance Asia & Stablecoin Hub
On October 24, US President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, erasing his late-2023 conviction on anti-money laundering charges. The pardon removes major legal hurdles for Binance’s US operations and has fueled a 15% rally in BNB, pushing its market cap above $90 billion. Despite a $4.3 billion settlement, Binance still accounts for roughly 40% of global spot volume. Under regulatory pressure in Western markets, Binance has shifted focus to Asia: SoftBank’s PayPay now holds 40% of Binance Japan, Gulf Binance secured a full license in Thailand, and Binance re-entered South Korea by acquiring GOPAX. Meanwhile, the BNB Chain sees renewed growth in trading volumes, active wallets and developer activity. Binance’s ERC-20 stablecoin reserves have climbed to $44.2 billion, representing 67% of exchange balances and solidifying its role as a stablecoin liquidity hub. Traders should watch for US compliance updates, CFTC engagement and potential regulatory green lights that could pave the way for a full Binance US return. BNB currently trades around $1,128, with support at $1,080 and resistance near $1,180; a breakout above $1,180 could target $1,300, while a dip below $1,050 risks retesting $1,000.
Bullish
The full presidential pardon for CZ removes key regulatory barriers and renews investor confidence, directly fueling BNB’s recent price rally. Combined with Binance’s strategic pivot to Asia through major partnerships and licenses, and its dominance in ERC-20 stablecoin reserves, the exchange is solidifying its liquidity and market share. In the short term, removal of legal uncertainties and bullish technical signals around the $1,180 resistance could spark further upside. Over the long term, stronger compliance foundation and expanding global footprint are likely to support sustained BNB demand and healthy trading volumes, underpinning continued price appreciation.