CZ Draws A Line: Binance Co-Founder Declines Return After Trump Pardon

By: Christian Encila

26 January 2026 at 15:30

Reports say Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, will not return to the company he helped build even after his legal name was cleared.

US President Donald Trump issued a pardon late in 2025 that removed the criminal tag from his name. That move reopened doors that had been closed, but CZ says he prefers to stay out of day-to-day management.

Pardon And The Past

CZ pleaded guilty in 2023 to charges tied to weak anti-money-laundering controls at Binance. He accepted a deal that included large fines and operational changes for the exchange.

Binance paid roughly $4.3 billion in penalties as part of settlements with US regulators. After receiving a prison sentence, he served time in 2024 and later received clemency from Trump in October 2025.

A candid conversation from Davos – on prison, pardon, and what freedom means going forward.

Full interview on @CNBC with @andrewrsorkin. Focused on building what’s next. pic.twitter.com/x94llJFac2

— CZ BNB (@cz_binance) January 25, 2026

A Former Exec Reflects

Zhao’s prison stay left a mark. In public talks and interviews, he described the experience as “difficult and personal.”

He has spoken about basic hardships inside and about the mental toll the period took on him. At Davos and in other forums he has been open about those days while also discussing what the future might hold for crypto.

No Return To Binance

Based on market chatter, Zhao said he does not plan to step back into a leadership role at Binance. He used phrases that made it clear he believes the exchange can run without him.

New leaders at the company are in place, and he said they should be allowed to lead. That position was repeated across several news outlets after his public appearances.

Leaders And Denials

Binance management has pushed back on claims that politics or outside deals played any part in the pardon. Company reps denied there was a link between the Trump pardon and other crypto projects tied to political figures.

Those denials were offered to calm markets and to show the company remains officially detached from political moves.

Industry Reaction & Questions

Analysts and rivals reacted with a mix of relief, doubt, and curiosity. Some think the pardon could change how US regulators approach enforcement in the future.

Others worry about the message it sends, given the amount of the penalties already paid. Markets watched closely, and some investors adjusted their views on risk and leadership at major exchanges.

A Quiet Next Chapter

Zhao’s statement that he will not come back closes one chapter while opening another. He may act as an investor, advisor, or public voice for crypto ideas, but insisted he will not reclaim the top job.

Featured image from Leadership Circle, chart from TradingView

CZ Declares He Won’t Return to Binance After Trump Pardon – What’s Going On?

Cryptonews

By: Anas Hassan

26 January 2026 at 05:12

Changpeng “CZ” Zhao confirmed he has no plans to return to Binance despite receiving a presidential pardon from Donald Trump three months ago.

Speaking at his first World Economic Forum appearance in Davos, the former CEO detailed his prison experience, the pardon process, and his current government advisory work on crypto regulation.

“Much more freedom, much more liberated,” Zhao said about the October 20 pardon’s psychological impact. “I was a free man before but with a felon status. But now I’m a real free man.“

From Prison to Presidential Pardon: CZ’s Journey

Zhao served four months in federal prison after pleading guilty in November 2023 to violating the Bank Secrecy Act.

His first day involved a “pretty brutal” strip search where authorities required him to “strip naked,” “lift your balls,” and “flip over, spread your butt cheeks, cough three times.“

His first cellmate was serving 30 years for double murder. “I’m not usually very emotionally stable,” Zhao said about coping.

“So I just thought, at four months, I just got to get through it, right?” Despite legal advice that no one in U.S. history had been jailed for a single Bank Secrecy Act violation, he received prison time while most bank CEOs get deferred prosecution agreements.

Media speculation in March 2025 prompted Zhao to apply after major publications suggested he should receive one.

“It was actually all the media that says I might be trying to get a pardon,” he explained. “If all the media like you know Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, New York Times are saying that I should be getting a pardon,” he decided to apply.

He never met Trump directly. “I never got in front of Trump,” Zhao said, noting the process remained “like a black box. I don’t know what the process is.”

He was “about 30, 40 feet away from him” during a Davos session but never shook hands. “I just waited and waited and waited and then suddenly it happened.“

Current Focus: Education, Investment, and Government Advisory

Zhao now focuses on Giggle Academy, a free education platform, while working with YZLabs and mentoring BNB Chain founders.

“I also spent quite a lot of a lot of time talking with about a half about a dozen governments about you know how to regulate crypto, how to do tokenization, how to do stable coins,” he said.

He firmly ruled out returning to Binance. “I haven’t really needed to go back. I didn’t really want to,” he stated.

“I don’t think it’s good for me to go back. I think we should leave room for strong leaders to grow.” His involvement today is minimal, revealing, “When I want to give them advice, I just write it on Twitter.“

When asked about potential refunds of Binance’s $4.3 billion settlement, Zhao said, “If we get any refund, we will be investing that in America, to show our appreciation,” though he clarified he had not requested one.

CZ Predicts 2026 Bitcoin “Super Cycle” Breaking Historical Pattern

Notably, Zhao predicted a “super cycle” in 2026 that could break Bitcoin’s four-year pattern. “I have very strong feelings that you will probably be a super cycle” in 2026, he told CNBC.

“Normally, Bitcoin follows four year cycles historically,” Zhao explained.

“If you look at historic data like every four years you know there’s an all-time high and then there’s a drop. But I think this year given the US being so pro crypto and every other country is kind of following, I do think we will see this we will probably break the four year cycle.“

Zhao doesn’t trade despite his holdings. “I don’t trade at all,” he said. “I just hold Bitcoins. I hold BNB. I don’t do day trading.” On long-term predictions, he stated, “If you look at a 10, five, 10 year horizon, it’s very easy to predict. We’re going to go up.“

Corruption Allegations and Political Backlash

The pardon has drawn fierce opposition from Democratic lawmakers, who question its timing and the circumstances surrounding it.

Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote that “the convergence of Mr. Zhao’s pardon application and Binance’s financial entanglements with the President’s family presents urgent concerns regarding the integrity of our justice system.“

Representative Maxine Waters also called it “an appalling but unsurprising reflection of his presidency.“

Despite these allegations, Trump claimed he doesn’t know who Zhao is, calling the case “a Biden witch hunt.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also defended the decision, noting the case had “no allegations of fraud or identifiable victims.“

In response to mounting criticism, Zhao’s attorney, Teresa Goody Guillén, dismissed corruption allegations as “false statements” based on “fundamental misunderstandings” of blockchain technology, arguing that Zhao “never should have been prosecuted.“

While CZ confirmed he will not be returning the exchange, reports, however, indicate that Binance is exploring options to re-enter the U.S. market.

The post CZ Declares He Won’t Return to Binance After Trump Pardon – What’s Going On? appeared first on Cryptonews.

CZ Fuels Optimism As Binance Coin’s $1,000 Target Trends

NewsBTC

By: Christian Encila

12 January 2026 at 01:00

Binance Coin climbed again over the weekend, pushing past the $900 mark and touching about $907 on Sunday after a sharp 24-hour uptick. Markets were calmer overall, with the broader crypto complex up 0.55% for the day while Bitcoin hovered above $92,000 and Ethereum traded beyond $3,100.

Market Reaction To Regulatory Shift

According to social posts from Changpeng Zhao, founder and former CEO of Binance who is also known as ‘CZ’, optimism around a possible new crypto cycle helped fuel demand. CZ linked the mood to a regulatory change, saying the Securities and Exchange Commission had removed crypto from its list of priority risks for 2026.

Based on reports, that move is being read by some investors as a sign of easing scrutiny, and it appears to have lifted sentiment across tokens.

I could be wrong, but Super Cycle incoming. https://t.co/6TLldEMmGA

— CZ BNB (@cz_binance) January 10, 2026

Institutional Buying Adds Fuel

Reports note sizable institutional flows into Bitcoin products. According to a filing, Wells Fargo bought 383 million of Bitcoin ETF shares, a figure that market watchers flagged as a large institutional stake.

Morgan Stanley also filed for its own spot Bitcoin ETF last week, which many see as more proof that big financial players are stepping in. Those actions are being cited by traders as one reason risk assets like Binance Coin could see more interest.

Macroeconomic Calendar Could Swing Prices

A packed US data week is ahead and traders say it could affect crypto angles. On Monday, the market will watch a speech by the FOMC president. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the US Consumer Price Index and the Producer Price Index are due.

Jobless claims come on Thursday, and a Fed balance sheet update lands on Friday. Any big surprise in those numbers can push liquidity flows and quickly change appetite for tokens.

Binance Coin: Technical Levels To Watch

BNB briefly reclaimed the $900 zone and was reported at $909 in some feeds as the four-hour chart showed a steady climb. Short-term resistance sits near $950, with a psychological barrier at $1,000.

Technical indicators offered cautious support for bulls: the MACD showed a bullish crossover with the blue line above the signal line, and the histogram printed positive bars, which suggests buying pressure building. The RSI sat around 56.10, under overbought levels, implying room for more gains.

Traders still point to a key support range near $850. A break below that could invite heavier selling and take prices down toward $820. The scenario of a quick pullback is real; prices that move fast up can move fast down. Market participants will be watching both the macro calendar and any fresh regulatory updates for clues.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Binance Founder CZ Says the 4-Year Bitcoin Cycle Is Over — Predicts a Potential Bitcoin Supercycle

Bitcoin Magazine

By: Micah Zimmerman

9 December 2025 at 11:13

Bitcoin Magazine

Binance Founder CZ Says the 4-Year Bitcoin Cycle Is Over — Predicts a Potential Bitcoin Supercycle

At the Bitcoin MENA conference, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) offered an pretty expansive view of Bitcoin’s evolving role in global finance.

While he touched on personal experiences, from his legal challenges in the United States to his pardon from President Donald Trump, his remarks consistently returned to the trajectory and potential of Bitcoin.

Speaking alongside BTC Inc CEO Brandon Green, CZ described the current adoption cycle as distinct from previous waves. While earlier cycles were dominated by retail investors, this cycle reflects significant institutional engagement.

Bitcoin’s institutional adoption

From Bitcoin ETFs to corporate strategic reserves, Wall Street and large financial institutions are participating in the crypto ecosystem.

“We have seen more institutions come in than probably previous cycles,” CZ said. This bridging between grassroots movements and institutional finance, he argued, positions Bitcoin for broader integration into the global financial system.

The conversation highlighted the inherent unpredictability of Bitcoin’s adoption path. CZ sees potential for growth through integration with traditional payment infrastructure.

Tools like crypto cards, where users pay in cryptocurrency but merchants receive fiat, allow demand to grow on the user side and lay the groundwork for more widespread adoption.

Stablecoins, he noted, will also play a key role in facilitating transactions without undermining Bitcoin’s investment appeal.

CZ’s take on Bitcoin’s 4-year cycle

CZ also offered perspective on how macroeconomic conditions and policy shifts can influence Bitcoin’s trajectory.

While the four-year cycle has long guided expectations for bull and bear markets, he suggested that external forces, including government monetary policies, may now have equal or greater influence.

CZ even said that bitcoin and crypto may be entering a “super cycle”

He pointed to potential U.S. rate cuts and quantitative easing as factors that could drive liquidity into crypto markets, suggesting the next cycle could diverge from historical patterns.

Institutionalization of Bitcoin, however, does not replace the grassroots origins of the network. CZ emphasized that retail holders remain the majority and that the international nature of Bitcoin is integral to its identity.

He described the institutional participation as complementary, not transformative, to the global movement that has propelled Bitcoin from a niche technology to a widely recognized asset class.

CZ’s personal journey

Throughout the discussion, CZ reflected on his personal journey, from ‘growing up on a farm in China’ to serving jail time, all while being intertwined closely with Bitcoin’s evolution.

He shared his experiences facing U.S. regulatory scrutiny, including potential imprisonment, and his eventual pardon by President Trump. The pardon drew criticism from Democrats like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who called it corruption, while the Trump administration framed it as correcting an “overreach” by the Biden administration against crypto.

Even as he stepped back from day-to-day operations at Binance, CZ has remained engaged in advancing the industry. He has focused on advising governments on how to regulate crypto.

Beyond regulation, CZ has turned attention to education and innovation. He founded Giggle Academy, a free, gamified, digital education platform that now reaches approximately 90,000 children, emphasizing accessibility and positive societal impact.

CZ’s reflections on legacy and impact returned repeatedly to Bitcoin. While he admires other industry figures, like Michael Saylor, for their single-minded focus on Bitcoin, CZ sees his own role as complementary: attempting to foster innovation across multiple chains while championing Bitcoin’s primacy.

“Bitcoin itself is great. It is the global reserve currency in crypto, probably soon in the world,” he said.

In closing, CZ reiterated that his goal remains clear: driving adoption and awareness of crypto worldwide. Whether through institutional engagement, policy advising, or fostering innovation, he positions himself as a conduit between the grassroots and the broader financial ecosystem.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is skyrocketing towards $93,000.

This post Binance Founder CZ Says the 4-Year Bitcoin Cycle Is Over — Predicts a Potential Bitcoin Supercycle first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

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