“No Discussions”: CZ Fires Back at WSJ Report of Trump Family Investment Discussions

TLDR

CZ (Changpeng Zhao) denied WSJ reports about discussions involving Trump’s family investing in Binance.US

CZ called the article an “attack on the President and crypto” and mentioned “residual forces” from the previous administration

CZ received a 4-month prison sentence for violating US anti-money laundering laws (BSA)

According to the denied WSJ report, discussions allegedly included the possibility of a presidential pardon for CZ

Binance.US recently resumed USD deposits/withdrawals and had its SEC legal battle paused for 60 days

CZ addressed the rumors directly on social media platform X on March 13, 2025. He stated clearly that no such discussions had taken place. “I have had no discussions of a Binance US deal with … well, anyone,” CZ wrote.

The WSJ report alleged that President Trump’s family was exploring an investment in Binance.US, the American branch of the global cryptocurrency exchange. The article also claimed these discussions included the possibility of a presidential pardon for CZ.

4. Sorry to disappoint. The WSJ article got the facts wrong.

More than 20 people have told me they were asked by the WSJ (and another media), "Can you confirm that CZ made some deal for a pardon?"

They probably asked hundreds of people to have 20 people reach out to me. In… https://t.co/ELyDPmKD3G

— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) March 13, 2025

CZ suggested the article was meant to harm both Trump and the cryptocurrency industry. “Feels like the article is motivated as an attack on the President and crypto,” he wrote on X. He added that “residual forces of the ‘war on crypto’ from the last administration are still at work.”

According to CZ, many people contacted him about the story. He said more than 20 individuals informed him they were contacted by WSJ and another media outlet. These contacts allegedly asked to confirm whether CZ “made some deal for a pardon.”

The former Binance CEO did acknowledge the appeal of a pardon. “No felon would mind a pardon,” he stated in his social media response. He noted he was “the only one in US history who was ever sentenced to prison for a single BSA charge.”

CZ pleaded guilty to violating US anti-money laundering requirements in late 2023. This plea agreement resulted in a $4.3 billion settlement for Binance. CZ himself received a four-month prison sentence.

The WSJ report claimed the Trump family might channel their investment through their DeFi venture called World Liberty Financial (WLF). The article also mentioned Steve Witkoff in connection with the discussions. Witkoff is a WLF executive and an advisor to Trump on global negotiations.

This WSJ report comes at a time of improved circumstances for Binance.US. The exchange recently resumed USD deposits and withdrawals for its US customers. The company also had its legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) paused for 60 days.

CZ has criticized the Wall Street Journal in the past. He has accused the publication of producing false or misleading reports about himself and Binance on multiple occasions.

In a previous instance, CZ responded to a WSJ article claiming closer ties between Binance and Binance.US than officially disclosed. That report relied on leaked Telegram messages and interviews with unnamed staff members.

CZ’s response to that earlier article was simply to tweet “4.” This referred to his previous advice to followers to ignore “FUD, fake news, attacks, etc.” This response became something of a meme within cryptocurrency communities.

Throughout his time in the public eye, CZ has often accused traditional media outlets of spreading fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) about Binance. This criticism has extended to the broader cryptocurrency industry as well.

CZ has regularly urged his social media followers to disregard such reports. He often frames these stories as sensationalist or showing bias against cryptocurrency in general.

In his recent denial of the Trump investment report, CZ also expressed his ongoing commitment to the industry. He stated he remains dedicated to making “crypto great everywhere, US and the rest of the world.”