Key Takeaways
- Changpeng Zhao has no interest in returning as Binance’s CEO.
- SBF has a 5% chance of receiving a pardon from Donald Trump, according to Polymarket.
- CZ continues to work on his free education project and platform, Giggle Academy.
Binance’s co-founder and former CEO, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, remains unwavering in his commitment to never returning to Binance.
In a recent X exchange, CZ commented that he would be receptive to a pardon from the incoming U.S. President, Donald Trump.
Would Trump Pardon CZ?
Today, CZ responded to a post from John Lilic, co-founder of the TelosX exchange. Lilic argued that CZ should receive a pardon from Trump so he could return to his position as Binance’s CEO.
But the former exchange boss isn’t interested.
https://twitter.com/cz_binance/status/1863435232768111057
CZ cheekily added that he “wouldn’t mind a pardon.” In good humor, CZ followed this up with a response to news that current U.S. President Joe Biden was pardoning his son Hunter Biden for gun and tax charges.
https://twitter.com/cz_binance/status/1863431492149346358
A pardon isn’t impossible, though it may be unlikely. During his first run as U.S. President, Trump pardoned Ben Kurson, a former Ripple (XRP) board member.
People were disappointed he didn’t pardon Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, Julian Assange of Wikileaks, or Edward Snowden.
Per a contract on crypto prediction betting site Polymarket, CZ isn’t on the list of likely pardons within the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency.
At present, Ulbricht stands with a 67% chance, Assange at 16%, and Snowden at 18%.
Interestingly, former CEO of the now defunct crypto exchange FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), has made the list, though bettors lack confidence as just 5% back his chances of receiving a pardon.
Notably, CZ and Binance’s legal team are reportedly taking the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to court and seeking to dismiss the regulator’s allegations that he or the exchange violated securities laws.
This is on the basis that the SEC lacks certainty on how to classify crypto tokens.
Giggle Academy
Meanwhile, CZ is working on his philanthropic educational project, Giggle Academy.
Giggle Academy aims to bring free education to every child on Earth and has just announced a competition for storytellers with a total prize pool of 15 Binance Coin (BNB) worth just over $9,600.
Storytellers are invited to write and submit children’s stories between 5 and 20 pages long for the Giggle Academy platform.
Two weeks ago, Giggle Academy’s X account was hacked. CZ shared the update via his personal account:
“Woke up to “Giggle Academy X account hacked. Working on restoring it. Always use common sense when reading content from anywhere.”
Eddie is a gaming and crypto writer at CCN. Covering the often weird and wonderful world of Web3 with an adoring, but skeptical eye.
Prior to CCN, Eddie has spent the past seven years working his way through the crypto, finance, and technology industry. He began with PR and journalism with Bitcoin PR Buzz and BitcoinNews.com, eventually working his way to become a copywriter with a dozen firms, including the likes of Polkadot before returning to journalism in 2023.
Having studied Radio production and journalism at University in the UK, Eddie spent a few years making podcasts and presenting on a local London radio station as he built up his writing chops.
A lifelong skateboarder, Eddie can often be found at the skatepark or touring the streets looking for something new to try. That, or kicking back playing JRPGs on his original PSP.
