What Next | Daily News and Analysis TBD | Why Trump Keeps Pardoning Crypto Criminals
13 snips
Nov 2, 2025 In this conversation with Alex Kirshner, a contributing writer at Slate specializing in cryptocurrency and finance, the discussion centers on Trump's controversial pardoning of crypto figures. Kirshner unpacks how Binance’s Changpeng Zhao leveraged political ties for personal gain and why Trump's pardons often favor financial criminals. He explores the surprising connections between crypto and politics, as well as the implications of these pardons on accountability in the industry. The conversation highlights the complex relationship between financial favor and political power.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Binance's Deliberate Rule-Flouting
- Binance deliberately flouted U.S. anti-money laundering rules and mocked regulators in internal messages.
- Changpeng Zhao turned Binance into a playground for money launderers, according to Alex Kirshner.
Trump Family-Stablecoin Deal With Binance
- The Trump family partnered with Binance to host the Trump stablecoin and earn fee-based revenue.
- Alex Kirshner explains the deal benefitted the Trump family's crypto venture and Binance's promotion of the token.
Pattern Behind Trump's Pardons
- Trump tends to pardon people who flatter him, enrich him, or serve his political narratives.
- Alex Kirshner ties CZ's pardon to personal flattery and enrichment motives, not justice concerns.