CZ’s Cosmic Comeback: Pardon, Memecoins, and the Art of Not Being Banned 🚀🐶

Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao spent a year rebuilding influence after serving four months in prison for violating US AML rules. The universe’s favorite memecoin jester paid a $4.3-billion fine (because money is just confetti in the cosmic laundry room), a $50-million criminal fine (for flavor), and received a lifetime ban from holding an executive position at Binance (because nothing says “freedom” like being banned from your own company).

Over the year following his release in September 2024, Zhao resurfaced as a government advisor, moved memecoins with X posts (because who needs sleep when you can trend?), and fended off claims by The Wall Street Journal that he was playing cosmic chess with the Trump family and the World Liberty Foundation (a game where the pieces are all named “Billionaire” and the board is a spreadsheet).

In mid-September 2025, Zhao updated his X profile from “ex-@binance” to “@binance,” then received a pardon from President Donald Trump. The moves? A masterclass in bureaucratic yoga: bend, don’t break (or, in this case, bend, break, then get pardoned).

BinanceLabs Rebrands; YZi Labs Expands (Because Names Are Just Suggestions)

Even without an executive role, Zhao still owns ~90% of Binance. In February, he posted a screenshot showing 98% of his crypto investments are in BNB. Forbes says his net worth is $87.2 billion. Zhao insists, “I don’t have that much.” (A statement that’s 100% accurate if you count the value of his existential dread in 2024.)

Following his pardon, the circumstances around his potential return to Binance shifted. Richard Teng now leads the centralized exchange, while Zhao mentors at YZi Labs (formerly BinanceLabs). The firm is throwing money at crypto, AI, and biotech like it’s a startup version of a casino. Their $1-billion commitment to BNB Chain? A move so bold, it makes a black hole look timid.

Beloved Pet Becomes Memecoin Cash Cow (And Other Magical Thinking)

Solana ruled memecoins in 2024, but BNB Chain stepped in for a 2025 showdown. The shift began when Zhao reunited with his dog, Broccoli, and hinted the BNB Foundation might reward top tokens. The post triggered a memecoin frenzy so intense, PancakeSwap briefly outtraded Solana’s meme hubs (because why not?).

By October, BNB Chain’s meme momentum made network fees sky-high, and its Four.meme launchpad outpaced Solana’s Pump.fun. The universe’s favorite memecoin petri dish was thriving-thanks to a dog, a pardon, and a very confused SEC.

Zhao’s Beef with WSJ and the Pardon Question (Because Nothing Says “Trust” Like a Feud)

In December 2024, Zhao said he “wouldn’t mind a pardon” from Trump. By March 2025, The Wall Street Journal (the universe’s most dramatic scriptwriter) reported Binance sought a stake in its US arm via Trump family connections. Zhao denied it, calling the article an “attack on the President and crypto.” (Translation: “I’m not a fixer; I’m a dog owner.”)

The feud escalated when the WSJ accused Zhao of introducing activist Bilal Bin Saqib to World Liberty Financial. Zhao called it “another hit piece,” adding he met Saqib for the first time during the same trip. Democrats in the US Senate, meanwhile, asked for info on reports linking Zhao to pardons and Binance’s political dealings. Zhao admitted lawyers were preparing a pardon application-after the media reports surfaced. (Timing: impeccable. Drama: inevitable.)

Zhao Becomes a Crypto Statesman (With a Side of Legal Drama)

Despite a felony conviction, Zhao has become a global crypto statesman. Malaysia, Pakistan, and Kyrgyzstan sought his advice on crypto strategy. Pakistan formally appointed him a crypto adviser, while Kyrgyzstan added BNB to its national reserves. (Because nothing says “economic stability” like a stablecoin and a dog named Broccoli.)

FTX and US Law Are Zhao’s Two Recurring Headaches (And Why Bother With Sleep?)

In June 2025, Zhao asked a Delaware court to dismiss FTX’s $1.8-billion lawsuit over a 2021 buyback deal. He called FTX’s claims “nonsensical” and accused them of blaming him for Sam Bankman-Fried’s crimes. (Because nothing says “justice” like a three-way legal blame game.)

FTX also claimed Zhao’s 2022 X posts about selling FTT triggered a bank run. Zhao fired back, saying the posts merely exposed a “fraudulent enterprise” already collapsing. (Translation: “I didn’t kill the goose; I just noticed it wasn’t laying eggs anymore.”)

Hyperliquid Competitor Aster Booms (And Then Explodes)

Aster, a Binance-aligned rival to Hyperliquid, claimed $2 billion in TVL in September 2025. But momentum came with controversy: DefiLlama delisted Aster’s data, citing integrity issues. The tension between Hyperliquid and Binance peaked during a $19-billion liquidation event, with Hyperliquid’s Jeff Yan accusing exchanges of hiding risks. Zhao retorted on X, claiming Binance “PROTECTED USERS” by taking losses. (Because nothing says “trust” like a $19-billion liquidation and a viral tweet.)

With a presidential pardon in hand, Zhao is no longer defined by a conviction. His detractors argue pardons don’t erase past actions. His supporters claim the case was political overreach. Either way, CZ has recentered himself in crypto by backing BNB Chain projects and advising governments. Now, the universe waits to see if he’ll double down on the US or keep building empires in the DeFi wild west.

2025-10-27 19:07