Changpeng Zhao, the Chinese-born Canadian entrepreneur widely known as CZ, is the prominent founder and former leader of the global cryptocurrency exchange Binance. After building a massive fortune through various blockchain ventures, his career faced significant turbulence when he pleaded guilty to federal money laundering violations in the United States. Following the completion of a four-month prison sentence in late 2024, Zhao successfully lobbied for a presidential pardon, which was granted by Donald Trump in October 2025. This legal reprieve occurred amid reports of extensive business collaborations between Binance and a digital finance platform owned by the Trump family. Beyond his legal c ...