Changpeng Zhao, founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, is seeking a pardon from Trump for 2023 money-laundering violations, according to The New York Times. Zhao has been out of prison for two years and is pursuing a sophisticated influence campaign, publicly praising Trump’s crypto policies while hiring lobbyists with ties to the president's circle. The New York Times also reported that Binance formed a business relationship with the Trumps through a deal that benefited their crypto firm, World Liberty Financial. Both Zhao and Binance pleaded guilty in 2023 to allowing illicit actors to move money through a flawed compliance system.
