The Trump administration solidifies its pro-crypto shift with the pardon of the Binance founder, while reports detail $1.000 billion in family profits from the sector.
US President Donald Trump granted a presidential pardon on Thursday to Changpeng Zhao, the founder and former CEO of the cryptocurrency platform Binance. The decision abruptly ends the legal proceedings against one of the industry's most influential figures, who had been sentenced to prison for systemic failures in preventing money laundering.
For experts, this act of clemency by Trump is one of the most powerful signals to date of the deep realignment between Washington and the digital asset sector, in which the Trump family has prospered financially.
Several recent reports, based on analysis by media outlets such as the Financial Times, estimate that cryptocurrency businesses have generated nearly $1.000 billion in profits for the US president's family since his return to the White House.
Zhao, known as CZ, expressed on social media that he was "deeply grateful" for the decision and praise Trump for "upholding America's commitment to equity, innovation, and justice." The White House justified the move by claiming that the previous administration had prosecuted Zhao out of "a desire to punish the crypto industry."
The Oval Office is betting on Bitcoin. Join today with Bit2Me.Donald Trump: From Skeptic to Bitcoin Advocate and Strategist
Zhao's pardon consolidates a 180-degree turn in Donald Trump's stance. In 2019, during his first term, President Trump publicly dismissed Bitcoin., calling the cryptocurrency "extremely volatile" and "airborne," and warning about its use in illicit activities.
However, today, his administration actively promotes favorable regulations, such as the GENIUS Act, with the stated goal of fostering blockchain innovation and turn the United States into the "cryptocurrency capital of the world".
This policy shift coincides with the president's own massive indirect financial exposure to Bitcoin. full test A detailed Financial Times report reveals that Trump has become one of the largest Bitcoin holders on the planet, not through direct purchases, but through his stake in Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG). The parent company of Truth Social, which generates modest operating revenue, used its high stock market valuation to raise $2.300 billion earlier this year through a combination of stock sales and debt issuance. In July, TMTG invested $2.000 billion of that capital in the purchase of Bitcoin..
With a 41% stake in TMTG, Trump's share of that Bitcoin stash is currently estimated at around $870 million. In practice, TMTG operates less like a media company and more like a an investment vehicle in cryptoassets, very much in the style of Strategy. The key difference is that its main shareholder occupies the Oval Office, creating a scenario where regulatory decisions regarding cryptocurrencies directly impact its net worth.
Trade BTC. Bit2Me gives you access to the leading cryptocurrency.A family boom between NFTs and memecoins
The presidential family's digital fortune isn't limited to TMTG's Bitcoin treasury. The Financial Times details a diversification of assets that includes NFTs, memecoins, and project-specific tokens.
Trump's foray into the world of digital finance began with digital trading cards that generated millions of dollars in sales. However, the real boom came after Trump's electoral victory in the November 2024 presidential election. Projects such as the WLFI token, launched by World Liberty Financial with his children, brought in around $550 million. Meanwhile, meme cryptocurrencies directly associated with Donald and Melania Trump generated around $427 million.
These gains, confirmed and even downplayed by his son Eric Trump, who suggested the real figure could be higher, largely come from assets whose value soared in the wake of the political victory. The crypto community, sensitive to the regulatory environment, seemed to flock to these tokens as a bid to gain favor with the new administration.
However, the White House has flatly dismissed concerns about the apparent conflict of interest. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that "Neither the president nor his family have ever had, nor will they ever have, conflicts of interest."However, this statement clashes with the reality of a president pardoning key industry figures while his own company maintains a multimillion-dollar stake in the sector's flagship asset.
Certificate
Basic Bitcoin Course
Basic levelStart from scratch in Bitcoin in a clear, easy, safe and quick way. This course is specially designed for beginners practically know nothing about Bitcoin.
A bridge to global crypto leadership
The pardon of Changpeng Zhao, whose platform was found guilty in 2023 of violating anti-money laundering laws and banned from operating in the US, sends a clear message. The decision likely paves the way for the platform's return to the lucrative US market, as part of its goal to foster innovation and attract major players in the sector.
For a country that aspires to lead the global technological transformation, facilitating the development of the crypto industry is a strategic necessity. In this context, the executive branch is aligning policies that not only drive economic growth but also seek to position the United States as a leader in digital innovation. This reorientation, although ethically challenging for many observers, reflects an effort to integrate the talent and resources of the private sector with the government's vision to consolidate technological leadership.
As digital tools and assets, such as Bitcoin, continue to gain importance, the U.S. strategy appears to be based on creating a regulatory environment conducive to innovation, while maintaining market competitiveness and security.
The White House changes course. Enter the crypto market here.
