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Senator Warren accuses CZ of lobbying Trump for pardon, linking it to stablecoin political interests.
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CZ clarifies his case involved compliance issues, not fraud, money laundering, or victims.
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CZ says U.S. regulators are “weaponized” against crypto, accusing Warren of political bias.
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Trump defends CZ’s innocence, calling his pardon a stand for crypto freedom and innovation.
Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ and founder of Binance, fired back at Senator Elizabeth Warren after she accused him of fraud and corruption following his presidential pardon from Donald Trump.
The clash has reignited political tension around crypto regulation, with CZ calling out Warren for “spreading false information” and misrepresenting his case.
Warren Calls CZ’s Pardon “Corruption”
After President Trump granted a full pardon to CZ, who had previously faced anti–money laundering laws charges under the Bank Secrecy Act. Later, he resigned from his position shortly thereafter as part of a plea deal requiring Binance to pay a $4.3 billion fine, one of the largest ever imposed on a financial institution
Minutes after the announcement, Senator Elizabeth Warren took to X, labeling the move “corruption.”
CZ pleaded guilty to a criminal money laundering charge and was sentenced to prison.
But then he financed President Trump’s stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon.
Today, he got it.
If Congress does not stop this kind of corruption, it owns it. pic.twitter.com/NsWeaJcVeK
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) October 23, 2025
In her post, she accused Zhao of financing Trump’s stablecoin initiative and lobbying for the pardon, urging Congress to take action.
CZ Hits Back, Calls Out “False Claims”
In direct response to Senator Warren’s claim that CZ engaged in criminal fraud, Binance’s founder issued a rare public statement emphasizing transparency and cooperation with regulatory authorities.
In a clear and firm response, CZ said the claims were “political talk without real facts,” stressing that his plea deal with the U.S. Department of Justice had nothing to do with fraud, money laundering, or victims.
He explained that the case was only related to compliance oversights, not criminal intent. CZ also expressed disappointment that some politicians are using false claims to attack people who are working to build a transparent crypto industry.
CZ Says U.S. Regulators Are Targeting Crypto
CZ also reminded followers that Warren had “declared war on crypto” just days before his sentencing under the Biden administration, suggesting her stance reflected a broader political bias against the digital asset industry.
He further argued that such narratives are part of a pattern where U.S. authorities have “weaponized” regulatory bodies like the Department of Justice (DOJ) to suppress crypto innovation.
Trump Defends CZ and Crypto Innovation
Defending his decision, President Trump stated during a briefing, “They said what he did is not even a crime. I gave him a pardon at the request of a lot of good people.”
The move marks a defining moment in Trump’s pro-crypto stance, signaling a possible shift in Washington’s approach to digital assets.
Following the news, Binance Coin (BNB) surged over 5% to trade above $1,138, fueled by optimism across the market
