CZ Says Rival Exchanges Spent Millions to Block His Pardon and Binance U.S. Return
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao says rival U.S. crypto exchanges bankrolled lobbying efforts worth millions to block a pardon from former President Donald Trump and to prevent Binance from re-entering the U.S. market. Zhao framed the spending as a coordinated attempt to shape regulatory outcomes and blunt Binance’s competitive comeback; his allegation has not been independently verified.
If accurate, the accusation highlights how political and lobbying pressure can influence market access for major crypto firms and could prompt calls for greater transparency from regulators and exchanges. The dispute may complicate Binance’s path back into the U.S. and raise wider questions about competitive tactics and regulatory fairness that investors and policymakers will be watching closely.