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President Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, sparking a sharp rise in BNB and related tokens.
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BNB gained nearly 5%, while Trump-linked World Liberty Financial (WLFI) jumped 15%.
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The pardon marks another major intersection between Trump’s crypto agenda and Binance’s influence.
Tokens Rally After Presidential Pardon
Cryptocurrencies linked to Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao and President Donald Trump surged after Trump granted Zhao a presidential pardon on Thursday.
BNB, Binance’s native token, rose nearly 5% to around $1,115, briefly touching $1,149 earlier in the day. Trump’s associated token, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), gained over 15%, while a CZ-inspired meme coin named “4” spiked more than 30%.
CZ Responds to the Pardon
Zhao, who served four months in prison after pleading guilty to money laundering charges in 2023, expressed gratitude on X: “I’m deeply grateful for today’s pardon and to President Trump for upholding America’s commitment to fairness and innovation.”
Ties Between Binance and Trump’s Crypto Push
World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin is hosted on the BNB Chain, and a $2 billion investment from Abu Dhabi’s MGX fund to Binance was reportedly paid using the token. The broader crypto market also rebounded slightly following the news, with Bitcoin up 2% and Ethereum up 1.3%.
