Binance founder CZ’s presidential pardon is not an acquittal
A presidential pardon spares CZ from punishment but not guilt — cementing his conviction, blocking appeal options, and exposing Binance to civil lawsuits.
Opinion by: Joshua Chu, co-chair of the Hong Kong Web3 Association
US President Donald Trump’s recent pardon of Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhou has grabbed headlines. Some commentators hail the move as a way to “clear CZ’s record and allow him to return to the industry,” but this misses the point that a presidential pardon is not an erasure of guilt.
Judicial powers are, after all, only conferred upon the judiciary. Only a sitting judge holds the power and authority to overturn a conviction, acquit and restore innocence.