Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has announced a renewed strategic focus on the United States, declaring his intention to help establish the country as a global hub for cryptocurrency. Speaking at a press conference during Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai on December 3-4, 2025, CZ credited a recent presidential pardon from Donald Trump for enabling the company to operate more freely worldwide, including in America.

“I’m very appreciative of the pardon from Trump,” Zhao explained, noting it allows Binance to conduct business without previous constraints. “It’s my full intention to help make America the capital of crypto.”

A Strategic Pivot After Regulatory Hurdles

This marks a significant pivot for Binance, which had previously scaled back its US operations. CZ acknowledged that friction with the Biden administration led the exchange to withdraw investments from the country. He noted that its American arm, Binance US, has remained a small operation, especially after a 2023 lawsuit from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) resulted in the loss of banking access and several state licenses.

With these past issues resolved, CZ now views the US as a “very important market” rich with tech talent. He stated his desire to help bring major crypto businesses back to the region and noted that a key goal is to provide US institutional investors with better access and exposure to BNB.

US Regulations Gaining Clarity

When asked about global barriers to crypto adoption, Zhao identified regulatory uncertainty as a primary challenge. He revealed he has been working with over a dozen countries to help develop clearer frameworks. According to CZ, the US is now taking a leading role in this effort, though he cautioned that the process is just beginning.

He pointed to recent legislative progress, such as the passing of the GENIUS Act to establish rules for stablecoins, as a positive step. While the CLARITY Act, which seeks to define digital assets, is still in development, CZ emphasized that initial regulations won’t be perfect and will evolve. “We need to integrate with existing financial systems to enable mainstream adoption, as that’s the best way for growth,” he remarked.

Reflecting on Past Challenges

The Binance founder also spoke candidly about his personal challenges, including his time in a US prison. In April 2024, Zhao was sentenced to four months after pleading guilty to violating US money laundering laws. “I went through a lot of challenges—I went to jail, etc.—but I know that no one got hurt,” he said, underscoring that there was no fraud or user harm from his actions. “When I sleep at night, I sleep very well because I know I am helping a lot of people.”