3 min read 
Reports today suggest that US President Donald Trump’s family has engaged in discussions about acquiring a financial interest in Binance’s American operations.
Meanwhile, Binance’s founder, Changpeng Zhao, has been seeking presidential pardon from Trump’s administration according to the Wall Street Journal. Sources familiar with the matter claim these efforts have been ongoing since Zhao pleaded guilty to violating US anti-money laundering laws in late 2023.
Zhao stepped down as Binance CEO in November 2023 as part of a $4.3billion settlement with US regulators. The agreement resolved multiple investigations into Binance, which had been under scrutiny for years over its compliance practices.
Discussions between Binance and Trump’s associates reportedly took place last year, with the exchange looking for a path back into the US market. The specifics of any potential financial arrangement remain unclear, including whether a stake in Binance would be linked to a possible pardon.
Neither Binance nor Trump’s representatives have publicly commented on the matter.
Trump’s growing crypto ties
Trump’s involvement with cryptocurrency has intensified in recent years. Earlier this month, he signed an executive order directing the U.S. government to establish a strategic reserve of digital assets, using tokens already in its possession.
His administration has received significant backing from the crypto industry, which contributed millions of dollars to support his campaign and other Republican candidates.
Trump’s family has also launched cryptocurrency-related projects, including meme coins, and holds an interest in World Liberty Financial (WLF), a DeFi initiative. In 2024, the project quickly sold nearly all of its initial 25 million WLFI tokens, further cementing the family’s connections to digital assets.
Binance attracting new investors
While talks with the Trump family continue, Binance has been actively securing investment elsewhere. Just yesterday, an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund committed $2bn to the exchange, marking the largest single investment in a crypto business to date.
The possibility of Trump’s family entering the Binance investor pool has sparked mixed reactions within the crypto community. Some view it as a positive development that could further legitimize the industry. Others, however, have raised concerns about conflicts of interest, particularly given Trump’s policy influence and Binance’s ongoing regulatory scrutiny.
If Trump’s family secures a stake in Binance, questions will likely arise over whether political decisions are being shaped by personal financial interests. Given the president’s outspoken support for crypto, the situation could fuel further debate over the intersection of government policy and private investment.
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