CZ Breaks Silence on $4.3B Binance Fine After Trump Pardon

Changpeng Zhao Breaks Silence on $4.3 Billion Binance Fine After Trump Pardon

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: November 17, 2025

Key Takeaways

Changpeng Zhao called the idea of reclaiming Binance’s $4.3 billion settlement a “delicate question” and said no request for a refund had been made;
Zhao expressed gratitude for his pardon and said any refunded money would be reinvested in the US to show appreciation;
His comments caused confusion, as Zhao no longer leads Binance but spoke as if he still represented the company.

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Changpeng Zhao has responded to a question about whether Binance $13.14B might seek to recover the $4.3 billion it paid in a settlement with US regulators in 2023.

The topic came up after blockchain author Anndy Lian asked on X if there had been any effort to recover the fine.

Zhao replied that it was a "delicate question" and said he did not think any such request had been made.

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He noted that he was already grateful for the pardon and emphasized that there’s a difference between being thankful and asking for more. He said:

There is a balance in asking for more vs what is fair vs appreciating what you got already.

He also mentioned that if a refund were ever issued, the money would be invested in the US as a gesture of gratitude.

His use of the word "we" caused some confusion, since Zhao stepped down from Binance’s leadership as part of the company’s agreement with authorities.

Although the fine was paid by Binance, not by Zhao himself, his response made it sound like he still speaks for the company.

The settlement included a $2.5 billion forfeiture and a $1.8 billion criminal fine. Zhao was fined $50 million. These penalties followed Zhao's plea of guilty in late 2023 to failing to establish a proper anti-money laundering program at Binance.

The White House's decision to pardon Zhao has followed a standard review process, according to press secretary Karoline Leavitt. What did she say? Read the full story.