Former Binance CEO Qiao Changpeng has indicated his willingness to receive a pardon from President-elect Donald Trump.
In a Dec. 2 post on X, Chao said he had no plans to return as Binance's CEO, but would welcome such a gesture from the president. He said:
“I have no desire to be a CEO again. But I would definitely not mind a pardon.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Zhao also mentioned his intention to support Mr. Trump's efforts to promote cryptocurrencies, even though he is not a U.S. citizen.
Chao's comments follow Telos Protocol leader John Lyric's appeal to President-elect Trump to pardon the Binance founder. Lyric said restoring Chao's leadership at Binance could accelerate the growth and maturation of the crypto sector.
Lyric said:
“The President (Donald Trump) should consider pardoning (Zhao Changpeng) so that he can return to the role of CEO of (Binance) and help the crypto industry mature and reach its full potential. He is also the victim of a violation of the law.”
Notably, several industry leaders, including Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, have expressed similar support for Zhao's pardon.
Chao pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in the United States and resigned as CEO of Binance in November 2023. He served a four-month prison sentence, which ended in September.
Since then, Zhao has announced that he no longer intends to return to his previous role at the cryptocurrency exchange. Instead, he plans to focus on blockchain development, AI investments, and his education initiative, Giggle Academy.
Observers believe Trump, known for his pro-crypto stance, may consider pardoning Zhao. However, the president-elect has yet to issue an official statement.
Notably, President Trump previously expressed support for commuting the sentence of Silk Road Marketplace founder Ross Ulbricht. Ulbricht's case remains controversial in the crypto community, with many arguing that his sentence was too harsh.
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