CZ Returns to US for Trump-Backed Crypto Conference

Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) returned to the United States this week after his release from prison in 2024, marking his first visit to the country since serving his sentence. The trip was part of a larger event hosted by World Liberty Financial at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, attended by over 500 prominent figures from finance, technology, and entertainment.

The guest list included notable names such as Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, New York Stock Exchange president Lynn Martin, 'Shark Tank' personality Kevin O'Leary, and Coinbase founder Brian Armstrong. The event provided a platform for World Liberty's leadership to outline their vision for the cryptocurrency industry, with a focus on establishing a 'new digital Bretton Woods system.'

CZ, whose crypto exchange has been barred from operating in the US since 2023 due to anti-money-laundering rule violations, pleaded guilty to a related charge that same year. He was subsequently sentenced to four months in prison and released in late September. In October 2025, CZ received a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump, which he acknowledged could aid his exchange's efforts to re-enter the US market.