Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, is seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump for money-laundering violations.
What Happened: Zhao has been out of prison for two years and is now pushing for a pardon, backed by a sophisticated influence operation.
Zhao’s campaign is notable even in a time when many seeking pardons are paying substantial fees to lobbyists and lawyers with connections to President Trump.
The implications of Zhao’s pardon could be significant for the cryptocurrency industry. Zhao and his team are employing a variety of strategies that have previously helped wealthy interests secure preferential treatment from President Trump.
Publicly, Zhao has praised the president’s crypto …