Binance Rethinks US Strategy as CZ Weighs Smaller Stake

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Binance Rethinks US Strategy as Changpeng Zhao Weighs Smaller Stake

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: December 18, 2025

Key Takeaways

Binance is rethinking its US operations and may reduce founder Changpeng Zhao’s ownership to meet local regulatory needs;
Zhao’s large stake is seen as a barrier to Binance’s US expansion in key states;
The company may partner with US firms like BlackRock and WLFI to strengthen its American presence.

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Binance Rethinks US Strategy as Changpeng Zhao Weighs Smaller Stake

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Binance $7.95B , one of the largest crypto exchanges, is reportedly reconsidering its operations in the United States.

The company may change its structure to better fit the American market, which could include founder Changpeng Zhao holding a smaller ownership share.

Bloomberg reported that Zhao’s large stake has been seen as a reason the company faces challenges expanding into certain US states. Discussions about changing that setup are still early and could shift as plans develop.

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The exchange is also said to be exploring partnerships with American firms to build a stronger local presence. Among the names mentioned are asset manager BlackRock and decentralized finance (DeFi) firm World Liberty Financial (WLFI), which has ties to US President Donald Trump.

Talk of Binance returning its focus to the United States began in October, after President Trump pardoned Zhao. Comments Zhao made on X at the time further fueled speculation. He said:

Will do everything we can to help make America the capital of crypto and advance Web3 worldwide.

Binance first limited its US operations in 2019. To stay within local regulations, it helped launch Binance.US, run by BAM Trading Services.

Recently, Binance warned users about people and groups pretending to act on its behalf to arrange token listings. What did the exchange say? Read the full story.