Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the not too long ago pardoned founding father of Binance, returned to the US this week, for the primary time since leaving federal jail in 2024. He attended the crypto summit hosted by the Trump household–backed World Liberty Monetary (WLFI) at Mar-a-Lago.
The looks marked a dramatic turnaround for CZ, who pleaded responsible in 2023 to anti-money laundering violations and served a four-month sentence earlier than being granted a full presidential pardon in October 2025.
CZ Returns to US After Presidential Pardon
Experiences describe the gathering as each low-key and symbolically loaded. In the course of the occasion, CZ:
- Mingled with Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.,
- Attended panels, together with one with newly appointed CFTC Chairman Michael Selig, and
- Shared house with distinguished figures similar to 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 coverage insights reasonably than political optics.
The optics of CZ’s return are hanging. From federal jail and a $50 million private high-quality to casually networking on the president’s membership, the occasion indicators that the authorized chapter is closed.
Trump’s pardoning of CZ successfully eliminated long-term limitations to US journey and enterprise exercise. It permits him to rebuild affect inside elite monetary and regulatory circles.
Networks at Mar-a-Lago as Binance Controls 87% of Trump-Linked USD1 Stablecoin
The timing additionally coincides with Binance’s rising position in WLFI’s USD1 stablecoin. The alternate reportedly controls roughly 85–87% of the $5.4 billion circulating provide, strengthening a Trump-backed enterprise that critics have questioned for potential conflicts of curiosity.
~87% of USD1’s circulating provide is sitting on Binance.
That’s the best single-exchange focus amongst main stablecoins, per Forbes. pic.twitter.com/yWjEtmRH1Z
— 0xMarioNawfal (@RoundtableSpace) February 10, 2026
Nonetheless, Binance is reinforcing its dominance within the USD1 ecosystem with a recent incentive push. From February 20 to March 20, the alternate will distribute 235 million WLFI tokens to USD1 holders, rewarding early adopters for offering liquidity.
Mar-a-Lago Summit Highlights Crypto-Political Convergence and USD1 Ambitions
The Mar-a-Lago summit highlighted the convergence of crypto, finance, and political affect. World Liberty’s management outlined formidable plans for USD1, framing it as a “new digital Bretton Woods system” to combine actual property, banking, and decentralized finance.
“…the work is just beginning… We are building the future, and we are doing it together,” WLFI wrote.
Attendees have been urged to discover its use, whereas WLFI additionally introduced upcoming tokenized funding merchandise tied to Trump resorts.
Regardless of Binance remaining barred from US operations as a result of 2023 settlement, CZ’s presence at a high-profile US occasion highlights a shift.
Engagements with coverage leaders like CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam and lobbying veterans similar to Brian Armstrong counsel that figures like CZ are regaining a foothold in discussions shaping the way forward for digital property.
Whether or not CZ’s return to the US will translate into renewed operational affect for Binance or stay a high-level networking train is unsure.
What is obvious, nevertheless, is the symbolism: a once-convicted crypto govt now freely attends elite US circles, at an occasion that blends enterprise ambition with political connections. In the meantime, his agency exerts unprecedented affect over a politically linked stablecoin.
