Zhao Changpeng, founder and former CEO of Binance, speaks during an event in Athens, Greece, on Nov. 25, 2022. Costas Baltas /File Photo/ Reuters
President Donald Trump pardoned convicted Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty two years ago to money laundering while in charge of the large cryptocurrency company, the White House said on Oct. 23.
“President Trump exercised his constitutional authority by issuing a pardon for Mr. Zhao, who was prosecuted by the Biden Administration in their war on cryptocurrency. In their desire to punish the cryptocurrency industry, the Biden Administration pursued Mr. Zhao despite no allegations of fraud or identifiable victims,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to The Epoch Times.
