Pardon or Pay-to-Participate? Trump’s Cryptocurrency Decision Ignites Regulatory Divide
- Trump's pardon of Binance founder Zhao sparks global debate on crypto regulation and political influence. - Zhao, who paid $50M fine for AML failures, faces criticism for alleged ties to Trump's crypto ventures. - White House defends decision as overprosecution, while critics accuse administration of "pay-to-play" corruption. - Binance's BNB surged 15% post-pardon, with analysts calling it a potential "game-changer" for U.S. crypto. - Zhao pledged support for Trump's "crypto capital" vision, fueling spec
President Donald Trump’s decision to grant clemency to Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, the founder of Binance, has sparked a worldwide discussion about the regulation of cryptocurrencies, the influence of politics, and the direction of the U.S. digital asset sector. Announced on October 23, 2025, this action represents a significant change in the federal government’s stance on digital currencies. Both detractors and advocates are describing it as a symbolic conclusion to what the
In 2023, Zhao admitted guilt to failing to implement a robust anti-money laundering (AML) system at Binance, resulting in a four-month prison sentence and a $50 million penalty. The platform itself reached a $4.3 billion settlement with U.S. authorities—the largest fine in crypto history—for breaches such as sanctions violations and operating without proper licensing, as detailed in
The White House has stood by the pardon, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt arguing that Zhao was "overly prosecuted" by the previous administration and that the pardon demonstrates Trump’s dedication to reducing regulation, as previously reported by Coinpaprika. Trump stated that the decision was supported by "many very good people" who believed Zhao’s conduct was not criminal, according to
The pardon has already triggered immediate reactions in the market. Binance’s own token,
Zhao, who still holds a majority stake in Binance, has voiced his appreciation for the pardon and promised to help Trump realize his vision of making the U.S. the "crypto capital," as reported by
As the controversy continues, the pardon highlights the deepening ties between digital assets and politics, with Trump’s administration presenting itself as a proponent of decentralized finance, while critics warn of weakened oversight and ethical concerns.
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
You may also like
Silver’s Price Swings and Strength: How Global Politics and Economic Trends Influence Market Prospects
- Silver prices rose 1% to $49.02/oz on Oct 24 after a 9% two-day drop to $47.89/oz, driven by geopolitical tensions, a strong dollar, and shifting industrial demand. - The metal gained 37% year-to-date to $49.02/oz, outperforming gold in India's Diwali-to-Diwali returns (92% vs. 71%) via ETFs and small bars. - Analysts highlight silver's dual role as inflation hedge and industrial metal, with technical support near $47.80 and resistance at $53.46. - Market participants monitor Fed rate cut delays, U.S. Do
Bitcoin Updates: Major Institutions and Companies Drive $429 Million Bitcoin Rally as Whales Employ Advanced Hedging Strategies
- BlackRock deposited $314M Bitcoin and $115M Ethereum into Coinbase Prime, signaling institutional trust in crypto custody solutions. - BTC OG whale executed $593M Bitcoin transfers across major exchanges, employing a $1.18B short position in complex hedging strategies. - Strategy's 640,418 BTC ($71.1B) reserves now control 3% of Bitcoin's supply, surpassing peers despite 36% stock price decline. - A 14.4-year dormant Satoshi-era wallet moved $16.56M Bitcoin, sparking liquidity speculation amid mixed mark
Thailand Launches Raid on Unauthorized Biometric Crypto Transactions Involving Iris Scans
- Thailand's SEC and CCIB raided a Worldcoin iris scanning facility on October 24, 2025, investigating unlicensed WLD token distribution through biometric verification. - Authorities examine if exchanging tokens for iris scans violates Thailand's digital asset laws, with 102 scanning sites under scrutiny. - Worldcoin claims compliance in eligible regions but faces global scrutiny over biometric data security in Indonesia, Germany, Kenya, and Brazil. - Thai regulators arrested suspects, emphasizing strict e
Uniswap News Today: ZK Technology Secures $9 Million Funding to Transform Trustless DeFi Rewards
- Uniswap Foundation grants Brevis $9M to build a trustless gas rebate program for v4 hooked pools via ZK proofs. - The system uses off-chain computation and cryptographic verification to reduce costs while maintaining DeFi decentralization. - Routers gain economic incentives to adopt v4's advanced features, potentially boosting liquidity and trader efficiency. - This ZK-powered model could set a precedent for scalable, transparent DeFi incentives across blockchain ecosystems.
Trending news
MoreCrypto prices
More
