14-3-2025 – The Trump family is reportedly engaged in discussions to acquire a stake in Binance.US, according to sources familiar with the matter cited by The Wall Street Journal. This potential investment emerges alongside efforts by Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the founder of Binance, to secure a presidential pardon following his incarceration for regulatory violations.
The discussions represent a significant potential expansion of the Trump family’s cryptocurrency portfolio, which already includes their World Liberty Financial venture launched this past September. Should the deal materialise, the family could hold the stake either directly or through this existing crypto enterprise.
These talks apparently originated when Binance sought connections with Trump’s allies last year, with the exchange hoping to forge a path back into the American market through a business partnership with the presidential family. The timing coincides with President Trump’s return to the White House, during which he has already exercised considerable influence over cryptocurrency markets.
The cryptocurrency exchange’s founder, Zhao, who owns the majority share of Binance, served four months in prison after pleading guilty to breaching anti-money laundering regulations. Now based in Abu Dhabi, Zhao views a presidential pardon as critical to Binance’s ambitions to re-establish itself firmly in the US market. The company previously settled regulatory violations with a substantial $4.3 billion fine in 2023.
Critics suggest this potential arrangement blurs the boundaries between President Trump’s governmental responsibilities and business interests, particularly as it coincides with favourable executive orders affecting the cryptocurrency sector.
Steve Witkoff, a close Trump ally, has reportedly been involved in these negotiations, though an administration official has denied his participation, claiming he is currently distancing himself from business activities. Witkoff has previously served as a key negotiator for Trump in diplomatic matters involving the Middle East and Ukraine.
The news initially triggered a surge in BNB (Binance’s native token) prices, pushing past the $600 threshold. However, Zhao subsequently denounced these reports as fabricated, criticising The Wall Street Journal for what he termed inaccurate journalism. Following his rebuttals, BNB experienced a sharp 2% decline within an hour, failing to maintain its position above $600.
Zhao categorically stated that he has not discussed any such arrangements with anyone, adding that numerous individuals had contacted him to refute the WSJ’s inquiries about the purported deal. He suggested the report appeared to be an attack on both President Trump and the broader cryptocurrency industry.
In a separate development potentially bolstering Binance’s position, the exchange secured a $2 billion investment from Abu Dhabi-based MGX on Wednesday.
