The family of former U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the possibility of acquiring a stake in the American division of the Binance exchange. This was reported by the WSJ, citing sources.
Changpeng Zhao refuted the WSJ publication, stating that no such negotiations took place.
4. Sorry to disappoint. The WSJ article got the facts wrong.
More than 20 people have told me they were asked by the WSJ (and another media), “Can you confirm that CZ made some deal for a pardon?”
They probably asked hundreds of people to have 20 people reach out to me. In… https://t.co/ELyDPmKD3G
— CZ ? BNB (@cz_binance) March 13, 2025
He claims that journalists approached “hundreds of people” to prompt them to confirm the alleged agreement. Among those who contacted CZ, more than 20 people stated they were asked about the existence of a deal.
The businessman noted that the publication might be an attempt to discredit cryptocurrencies and the U.S. President. In his view, the article reflects ongoing pressure on the digital asset industry, lingering from the previous political cycle.
Discussions began in 2024 when representatives of the trading platform sought partners to restore their position in the U.S.
The deal might have involved the Trump family’s DeFi project, World Liberty Financial (WLFI). However, according to sources, the final terms of the agreement have not been determined.
The discussions might have been linked to a request for a pardon for Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), insiders reported.
In 2023, CZ paid a $50 million fine and received four months in prison. In September, the businessman was released and remained the largest shareholder of the exchange.
Binance.US is gradually resuming operations in the country after regulatory issues. In 2023, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Binance, accusing the platform of violating laws.
Following this, the American division suspended dollar deposits. Last month, the exchange resumed operations.
In February, WLFI announced a “strategic crypto reserve,” and in March, it purchased $10 million in ETH, $10 million in WBTC, and $1.5 million in MOVE.