Binance Founder CZ Reveals Prison Reality and Regrets After Trump Pardon at Davos Forum

TLDR: CZ became the first person in US history jailed for a single banking secrecy act violation offense. The Binance founder denied any deals with Trump for his pardon and has never spoken with the president. CZ now operates as a passive Binance shareholder while focusing on Giggle Academy and mentoring projects. The former CEO predicts a Bitcoin super cycle in 2026 and would block US users from day one if restarting. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao shared details about his imprisonment and subsequent pardon during a CNBC SquawkPod interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The former CEO addressed his time behind bars, the circumstances of his release, and his plans for the crypto industry. CZ also touched on Binance’s relationship with the Trump family and his perspective on the exchange’s future direction. Prison Term and Presidential Pardon Details CZ described his incarceration experience, noting it was “unpleasant” and matched certain stereotypes depicted in films. The Binance founder expressed surprise at being jailed for a single banking secrecy act violation. No one in US history had previously served time for this particular offense. The strip search process marked a shocking introduction to prison life for the crypto executive. The pardon from President Trump came without direct solicitation from CZ until media reports emerged about the possibility. He clarified that he “did not directly seek it until media speculation arose.” CZ confirmed he “has not spoken with President Trump” personally. He expressed gratitude for the pardon while maintaining distance from speculation about potential deals. The former CEO addressed questions about connections between Binance and Trump family ventures. CZ “denies any explicit deals or understandings related to the pardon.” He clarified a transaction involving MGX and World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin. The deal represented “a standard business transaction and not an investment” in those entities. CZ emph...