Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao's Post-CEO Influence and Activities in 2025
Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao exited his role as CEO of Binance in 2023 and shortly thereafter served a brief prison sentence for violating the Bank Secrecy Act in the United States. In 2025, he received a presidential pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump, an event that boosted his prominence. Following the pardon, Zhao publicly expressed gratitude and praised themes of fairness, innovation, and justice. Trump later stated he did not know Zhao prior to granting the pardon and suggested that Zhao had been a victim of government weaponization.
Zhao continues to be active on social media where he comments on industry trends and the future of global cryptocurrency adoption. He disclosed a $1.8 million position in ASTER, the native token of a derivatives exchange on the BNB Chain, which saw its value increase from $0.90 to $1.08 after his announcement.
In 2025, Zhao also assumed a more active role in Binance's venture capital arm, YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs). YZi Labs manages around $10 billion in capital and has invested in over 250 companies, underscoring Zhao's ongoing influence in the crypto investment landscape.
