Trump Pardons Binance’s CZ: A Love Letter to White Collar Criminals (and His Wallet)
Donald Trump’s new pardon, hot off his diamond-plated signature pen, goes to none other than Changpeng “CZ” Zhao—the man whose Binance crypto empire doubled as a superhighway for every flavor of illicit money, from cartel cash to literal child exploiters. Is this the Onion? Sadly, it’s the United States in 2025, where the only color Trump sees is green, and the bar for a presidential “get out of jail free” card keeps dropping. Tired of injustice always punching down? Welcome to the latest round of “American Justice: Billionaire’s Edition.”
Who Got Pardoned and Why Should You Care?
Let’s spell it out: Zhao, founder of Binance, pleaded guilty in 2023 for running an anti-money laundering program so laughable it made traditional banks look like monk-run charities. He admitted Binance let dirty money escape scrutiny—including from child sex abuse rings, narco syndicates, and terrorist groups (CNN). The feds dropped the hammer; CZ got four months—a sentence barely longer than your average reality show. Now, thanks to His Orange ‘Magnanimousness,’ Zhao is not just a free man, but likely richer than when he went in.
This Isn’t Justice. It’s Trump’s Personal Cash Machine.
The “official” line? Biden overdid it, and, apparently, strict anti-money laundering is just government overreach if the cash is digital. The real story is screamingly obvious: The Trump clan’s new favorite playground is World Liberty Financial, a crypto project so incestuous with Binance that even Fox News would blush. Early in 2025, as CZ begged for mercy, Binance took a $2B “investment” using Trump-world’s own USD1 token—a midas-level bribe, masquerading as “innovation for America.”
Corruption? That’s the point. Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich and a rare coalition of reality-based GOP senators call this what it is—a “pay-to-pardon” circus. Meanwhile, if you’re struggling with student debt, try wiring two billion bucks and see if the White House takes your calls.
Trump’s Hall Pass: Crime is Fine if You’re Rich — and Friendly
CZ joins other blue-blooded, blockchain-wielding crooks on Trump’s growing VIP list. Miss the memo? Ross Ulbricht, Silk Road’s dark web overlord, was set free after some libertarian tears hit Trump’s desk. Trevor Milton, the Nikola con man who lied straight-faced to investors, got out of jail by donating nearly $2M to Trump’s campaign. Sam Bankman-Fried? Expect the pardon paperwork soon, because what’s a little multibillion-dollar fraud between crypto bros (NYT)?
Got felonies? No problem—just fork over enough crypto, take a selfie at Mar-a-Lago, and you’re in the clear. Ordinary people? Rob a liquor store and enjoy a decade behind bars.
Everyday Americans Lose. Again.
This is not victimless white-collar mischief. Binance enabled crime on a global scale: child exploitation, terror networks, drug trafficking—the very real, dangerous consequences of regulatory rot and presidential back-scratching. Every time Trump sells a pardon, confidence in American justice erodes, and families (often the most vulnerable) pay the price. Only the MAGA crowd is still pretending this is “law and order.”
If you think “well, maybe CZ just made a mistake,” remember: None of these guys is a misunderstood underdog. They’re economic arsonists—insured by presidential corruption and emboldened to try even bigger schemes next time.
Valid Sources (Trust—but Actually Verify)
- CNN: Trump Pardons Binance’s Founder
- Binance & Zhao Guilty Pleas
- Politico: Bipartisan Anger Over the Pardon
- NY Times: SBF Pardon Push
- CNN on Trump Crypto Conflicts
- WSJ: Justin Sun/Trump Crypto Dinner
- Crypto Regulation 2025
- CNN: Ross Ulbricht’s (Disastrous) Pardon
- Trump: Hush Money Trial
- CNN: Trump Memecoin Dinner