President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon CZ sent shockwaves through Washington and crypto markets, signaling what many are calling “the end of the crypto war.”
The Trump administration’s move represents a dramatic reversal of the previous government’s anti-crypto stance. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the pardon, stating that Trump “used his constitutional authority” and that the decision “ends the Biden-era war on crypto.” Trump himself said he did not know CZ personally but was told by “many good people” that he was innocent, calling the move a sign of “a new, crypto-friendly era.”
CZ had pleaded guilty in 2023 to violating the Bank Secrecy Act, paying a $50 million fine and serving four months in prison. Binance, meanwhile, settled with the U.S. Department of Justice for $4.3 billion, marking one of the largest corporate settlements in history. Trump’s pardon now raises the possibility of CZ’s return to leadership positions within the company.
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren condemned the decision as “political and dangerous,” accusing Trump of rewarding wrongdoing. Still, the pardon is widely seen as a signal of the U.S. pivoting toward more crypto-friendly regulation. Following the news, BNB rose by about 5%, with analysts noting that “crypto markets may regain strength under Trump’s presidency.”
