CZ Networks Freely at Mar-a-Lago Amid Binance’s USD1 Surge
Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the recently pardoned founder of Binance, returned to the US this week, for the first time since leaving federal prison in 2024. He attended the crypto summit hosted by the Trump family–backed World Liberty Financial (WLFI) at Mar-a-Lago.
The appearance marked a dramatic turnaround for CZ, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to anti-money laundering violations and served a four-month sentence before being granted a full presidential pardon in October 2025.
CZ Returns to US After Presidential PardonReports describe the gathering as both low-key and symbolically loaded. During the event, CZ:
- Mingled with Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.,
- Attended panels, including one with newly appointed CFTC Chairman Michael Selig, and
- Shared space with prominent figures such as Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, NYSE President Lynn Martin, Coinbase founder Brian Armstrong, Senator Bernie Moreno, Kevin O’Leary, and even Nicki Minaj.
“Learned a lot,” CZ shared, emphasizing policy insights rather than political optics.
The optics of CZ’s return are striking. From federal prison and a $50 million personal fine to casually networking at the president’s club, the event signals that the legal chapter is closed.
Trump’s pardoning of CZ effectively removed long-term barriers to US travel and business activity. It allows him to rebuild influence within elite financial and regulatory circles.
Networks at Mar-a-Lago as Binance Controls 87% of Trump-Linked USD1 StablecoinThe timing also coincides with Binance’s growing role in WLFI’s USD1 stablecoin. The exchange reportedly controls roughly 85–87% of the $5.4 billion circulating supply, strengthening a Trump-backed venture that critics have questioned for potential conflicts of interest.
~87% of USD1’s circulating supply is sitting on Binance.
That’s the highest single-exchange concentration among major stablecoins, per Forbes. pic.twitter.com/yWjEtmRH1Z
While some lawmakers and commentators have raised concerns about a perceived quid pro quo between the pardon and Binance’s dominance in the stablecoin, CZ has repeatedly called such reports “not news.”
Binance (users) hold the largest % of most stablecoins (USDT, USDC, USD1, U … you name it) compared to all other CEXs. Not news.