Is the Trump Family Buying a Stake in Binance US?

Trump family may be negotiating to acquire a stake in Binance US, the American arm of the world’s largest crypto exchange, according to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal. While there has been no official confirmation, speculation is running high, fueled by Donald Trump’s increasing support for crypto.

At the same time, another controversy is unfolding—former Binance CEO Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao is reportedly seeking a presidential pardon from Trump after pleading guilty to violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws. 

Trump’s Growing Ties to Crypto

Trump has shifted from being anti-crypto during his presidency to one of its biggest political advocates in the 2024 election cycle. His campaign has actively courted crypto investors, and he has even accepted donations in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.

His family’s potential interest in Binance US wouldn’t be their first foray into crypto. In 2024, Trump and his sons backed World Liberty Financial (WLF), a DeFi project that quickly sold out 99.2% of its 25 million WLFI tokens. Moreover, Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump also launched their respective tokens on the Solana blockchain.

Given this history, many investors believe that Trump’s involvement in Binance US is not far-fetched.

CZ’s Pardon Request and the Political Angle

Adding fuel to the fire, reports from the Wall Street Journal suggest that CZ has privately reached out to Trump’s allies seeking a presidential pardon. In 2023, Zhao pleaded guilty to violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws and agreed to a $4.3 billion settlement with regulators. He served four months in prison and remains the largest shareholder of Binance.

Some believe that a Trump-Binance deal could be a political trade-off—Trump’s camp investing in Binance US while Zhao secures a pardon. However, CZ has strongly denied these claims.

CZ’s Response: "WSJ Got It Wrong"

CZ took to X (formerly Twitter) to reject the allegations. He called the Wall Street Journal’s reporting inaccurate, stating:

"Sorry to disappoint. The WSJ article got the facts wrong. They probably asked hundreds of people to have 20 people reach out to me. In essence, they tried hard to make a story to report. I have had no discussions of a Binance US deal with anyone."

He also addressed the pardon rumors, saying that while "no felon would mind a pardon", he saw the article as a political attack—both on Trump and the broader crypto industry.

The Crypto Community Reacts

The potential of the Trump family owning a stake in Binance US has divided opinions in the crypto space.

Optimists see it as a bullish sign—if a former U.S. president and his family invest in one of the biggest crypto firms, it could bring more legitimacy to the industry.

Skeptics, however, fear excessive centralization. Some argue that a Trump-linked Binance US could mean policy decisions influenced by personal financial interests.

One of the most outspoken critics is commentator Ed Krassenstein, who wrote:

"Trump and Melania literally open a meme coin where they own 80% of the tokens, and any corrupt party, including foreign governments, can buy in to put money in Trump’s pockets. Now this?"

This isn’t the first time Trump’s businesses have been linked to crypto exchanges. In 2024, Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), which owns Truth Social, was rumored to be negotiating an acquisition of the Bakkt crypto exchange. That deal never materialized, but it shows that Trump’s businesses have been exploring crypto acquisitions for some time.

What’s Next?

For now, the Trump-Binance US stake remains unconfirmed. But if a deal does happen, it could mark a major turning point for crypto regulation in the U.S.. A former president having a direct stake in a leading exchange would create unprecedented political and financial implications for the industry.

At the same time, the controversy surrounding CZ’s pardon request and Trump’s past crypto ventures ensures that this story won’t fade anytime soon. 

While the Trump family’s interest remains speculative, Binance US is actively seeking new investors. Just recently, an Abu Dhabi government-backed wealth fund Emirati state-owned investment firm MGX has committed $2 billion to Binance, marking the exchange’s first institutional investment and the largest single investment ever made in crypto.

In a joint statement, both firms confirmed that the minority stake will be paid in stablecoins, making it the biggest cryptocurrency-funded investment to date.