CoinDesk Podcast Network Trump Claims He 'Doesn't Know' Who CZ Is Despite Presidential Pardon | CoinDesk Daily
Nov 3, 2025
President Trump claims he doesn't know Binance founder CZ, defending his controversial pardon as a move to bolster U.S. crypto competitiveness. Meanwhile, Animoca Brands is making waves with a reverse merger to list on NASDAQ, aiming to enhance access to digital assets. The Federal Reserve's recent $29.4 billion repo operation sparks discussions on liquidity support for risk assets. Dive into these fascinating developments shaping the future of finance!
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Pardon Framed As Competitive Protection
- President Trump publicly said he does not know Binance founder Changpeng Zhao despite issuing him a pardon.
- Trump framed the pardon as protecting U.S. crypto competitiveness and called Zhao a victim of government "weaponization."
Pardon Criticizes Previous Administration
- Trump claimed that Zhao "was treated really badly by the Biden administration."
- The president said he was told Zhao was set up and used the pardon to keep the U.S. competitive in crypto.
Critics Label Pardon As Potential Pay-To-Play
- Critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, called the pardon a likely example of "pay for play."
- They pointed to Zhao's financial ties to Trump-affiliated ventures as the basis for the criticism.