Changpeng Zhao Hits Back at Elizabeth Warren After Trump Grants Him Presidential Pardon

U.S. President Donald Trump has granted a full presidential pardon to Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), sparking sharp criticism from Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren. The lawmaker accused Trump of “corruption,” claiming that Zhao’s pardon followed his financial support of the former president’s stablecoin initiative. Warren alleged that CZ had pleaded guilty to money laundering charges, calling on Congress to act against what she described as “political corruption.”

In response, Changpeng Zhao refuted the senator’s allegations, stating that she had misrepresented the facts. CZ emphasized that there were no money laundering charges against him, urging Warren to “get her facts straight.” He also accused her of politicizing the crypto industry, noting that she had declared “war on crypto” on national television just days before his sentencing under the Biden administration.

The pardon marks a significant turning point in Zhao’s ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which had charged him with banking violations. Announcing the pardon, Trump said, “They said what he did is not even a crime. I gave him a pardon at the request of a lot of good people.”

The crypto community has largely rallied behind Zhao, with many seeing the move as a step toward fairer treatment of the crypto sector in the U.S. Meanwhile, market reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Binance Coin (BNB), the native token of the BNB Chain, surged by over 5%, climbing above $1,130. The token has gained more than 100% this year, with trading volumes jumping 61% to $5.74 billion amid renewed investor confidence.