CZ Says Trump Pardon Felt Like 'Vindication,' Praises US Crypto Policy Shift

Speaking on The Wolf of All Streets Podcast, Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) said he is deeply grateful for President Trump's pardon, describing it as "a level of vindication" and adding that he valued it more than he initially expected. CZ said the shift represents proof that the US can reverse course by 180 degrees, arguing that the previous regulatory direction would have cost the country its crypto and blockchain industry. He identified the internet, blockchain, and AI as the three defining industries of his adult lifetime, warning that any country that misses one of them will be severely disadvantaged. CZ said the US is now leading on crypto regulation but still lacks participation from some of the largest players in the space and adequate liquidity, a gap he said Binance hopes to help close. He expressed conditional optimism about sustained US crypto progress but cautioned that partisan dynamics — where a pro-crypto administration invites opposition attacks on the industry — represent a structural risk.