CZ Considers Reinvesting Potential Refund of $4.3B Fine in US

Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) stated that if the US government returns any part of the $4.3 billion settlement paid by Binance, he would reinvest it in the American economy.
Zhao received a presidential pardon in October and expressed gratitude, acknowledging that asking for a refund might be excessive.
The discussion was initiated by blockchain advisor Anndy Lian, questioning whether a presidential pardon negates the financial penalty imposed on Binance for non-compliance with anti-money laundering regulations.
Legal analysts suggest that the fine remains binding unless legally overturned, as the pardon covers criminal liability but not necessarily corporate financial settlements.
There were rumors suggesting that CZ or Binance had paid President Donald Trump in cryptocurrency to secure the pardon, which were denied by Zhao's defense team lead, Teresa Goody Guillen.
Guillen emphasized that any large crypto transactions would be visible on the blockchain, dismissing allegations of influence-buying.
Trump also refuted claims of personal connections with CZ, positioning the pardon as a corrective measure against previous administration actions targeting the crypto industry.
The pardon followed CZ's guilty plea in 2023 for violating the US Bank Secrecy Act, with a sentence of four months in prison and a $50 million personal fine.