CZ denied WSJ’s claims that Trump’s family is in talks to invest in Binance.US, calling it an attack on crypto and the President.
WSJ suggested a potential presidential pardon for CZ, linking the deal to Trump’s DeFi venture, World Liberty Financial (WLF).
CZ has repeatedly clashed with WSJ, accusing the media of spreading FUD about Binance and the broader crypto industry.
Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has denied a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report claiming that President Trump’s family is in talks to invest in Binance.US, the American arm of Binance.
JUST IN: CZ (@cz_binance) shuts down rumors of Trump’s family acquiring a stake in Binance US
Also refutes claims that he was pursuing a pardon from President Trump
On March 13, CZ took to X to refute the allegations, stating that the WSJ was trying to manufacture a story to attack both Trump and the crypto industry.
“They probably asked hundreds of people to have 20 reach out to me. Fact: I’ve had no discussions of a Binance.US deal with… well, anyone.”
CZ also suggested that anti-crypto sentiment from the previous U.S. administration may be fueling this narrative.
“Feels like the article is motivated as an attack on the President and crypto, with residual forces from the ‘war on crypto’ still at work.”
4. Sorry to disappoint. The WSJ article got the facts wrong.
More than 20 people have told me they were asked by the WSJ (and another media), "Can you confirm that CZ made some deal for a pardon?"
They probably asked hundreds of people to have 20 people reach out to me. In… https://t.co/ELyDPmKD3G
The WSJ report claimed the Trump family was considering investing in Binance.US, potentially through World Liberty Financial (WLF)—Trump’s DeFi venture.
The report also suggested that a presidential pardon for CZ was part of the discussions, following his guilty plea in 2023 that resulted in a $4.3 billion settlement for Binance and a four-month prison sentence for CZ.
“No felon would mind a pardon,” CZ remarked, “especially being the only one in U.S. history sentenced to prison for a single BSA charge.”
CZ vs. WSJ: A History of Clashes
This isn’t the first time CZ has clashed with WSJ. He has frequently accused the legacy media of spreading FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) about Binance and crypto.
In a previous WSJ report, leaked Telegram messages suggested that Binance and Binance.US had closer ties than publicly disclosed. CZ dismissed the claims, referencing his infamous “4” tweet, which urged followers to ignore fake news and attacks—a phrase that later became a meme in crypto circles.
Despite the controversy, Binance.US has seen recent positive developments, including resuming USD deposits and withdrawals and a temporary pause in its SEC legal battle.
For now, the Trump-Binance.US investment rumors remain just that—rumors.
