Binance Founder CZ Zhao Claims Rival Exchanges Opposed His Pardon Request

Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao has made a surprising claim that rival crypto exchanges in the United States opposed his pardon request before President Donald Trump granted clemency in October 2025.

Zhao, also known as CZ, made this statement on the Crypto Banter podcast, where he said some competitors did not want him pardoned because they feared Binance could return to the US market.

However, Zhao lacks concrete evidence to support this claim, and it remains unclear which specific exchanges were opposed to his pardon request.