Binance’s CZ’s recent pardon has sparked a lot of discussions in the crypto space, with the community members, lawmakers and even President Trump sharing his views on it.
Now, CZ’s recent comments have sparked fresh conversations after he revealed what he plans to do if the U.S. ever offers him a refund.
In a recent X post, Anndy Lian, an early blockchain adopter and the co-author of “Blockchain Revolution 2030”, asked CZ if he expected a $4.3 billion refund by the US Government after being granted a Presidential pardon.
CZ called this a very “delicate” question and shared that he is already grateful for the pardon itself. “I appreciate the pardon already. There is a balance in asking for more vs “what is fair” vs appreciate what you got already,” he said.
However, if a refund was ever considered, CZ said that he would reinvest those funds back into the US as a way of showing continued appreciation, and added that he has not yet asked for one.
CZ pleaded guilty in November 2023 to failing to maintain an effective Anti-Money Laundering program at Binance. He was sentenced to four months in prison in April 2024. Binance paid over $4.3 billion in settlements and CZ seperately paid a $50 million fine.
CZ’s pardon by President Trump sparked a widespread debate in the crypto community. Senator Elizabeth Warren pushed back strongly, raising questions if the justice system was being influenced.
However, CZ’s attorney Teresa Goody Guillén has denied claims that he “bought” a pardon from President Trump.
She said that the criticism was just a “pile up of inaccurate statements” and also pointed out the inaccuracies in Senator Warren’s allegations that CZ was convicted for a crime he wasn’t charged with.
She said that the pardon was actually an act of justice and CZ ended up becoming a scapegoat, and was targeted unfairly during a broader war on crypto.
CZ has also said that owning his mistakes was the right move and he wants to shift his focus to help strengthen the US crypto ecosystem and make it the crypto capital. He also added that the US currently leads in terms of clarity in crypto regulations.
Users praised Zhaos’ move, noting that choosing to reinvest back in America depicts a lot about his long-term vision. Users observed how CZ continues to lead by example and that real builders give back to the crypto space.
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