The cited record supports the material proposition.
Binance's founder Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty in November 2023 and was sentenced to four months in prison, received a US presidential pardon in October 2025.
- Claim made by
- US Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney, official report
- Published
- 21 October 2025
- Evidence score
- 94 How it was scored
- Last reviewed
- 25 October 2026
Why this label
The DOJ release of 21 November 2023 states that Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering programme and resigned as CEOS1. The Pardon Attorney's list, checked in October 2026, records a pardon dated 21 October 2025 for that offence in the Western District of Washington and a sentence of four months' imprisonment and a fine of US$50 million imposed on 30 April 2024S2. Press reports dated the public announcement 23 October 2025. The official list gives 21 October 2025 as the grant date. A pardon removes the punishment. The list does not state that the conviction was vacated, and the pardon does not cover Binance's corporate plea.
Current procedural position
Guilty plea on 21 November 2023S1, sentenced on 30 April 2024, pardoned on 21 October 2025S2.
Record supporting the assessment
Failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program
Four months' imprisonment
has resigned as CEO of Binance
Conflicting or limiting record
No record located that conflicts with this assessment.
Evidence score: 94 of 100
The score grades how well the record establishes this assessment. It is not a score of Binance Holdings Limited. Score = source authority + directness + corroboration + procedural accuracy + currency + reproducibility.
| Component | Points | Max | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source authorityIs the source competent to establish the proposition? | 30 | 30 | The Pardon Attorney's list and DOJ release are official records. |
| DirectnessDoes the source state the proposition or only discuss adjacent facts? | 20 | 20 | The list states the pardon date, offence and sentence. |
| CorroborationDo independent records support the same material point? | 11 | 15 | Two DOJ records agree. The pardon warrant was not read. |
| Procedural accuracyDoes the record settle the procedural state the claim describes? | 14 | 15 | The pardon is a final executive act. |
| CurrencyHas the record been checked against later developments? | 10 | 10 | Checked against the 2025 list as of October 2026. |
| ReproducibilityCan a reader locate the passage and repeat the assessment? | 9 | 10 | The list is public but long. |
| Total | 94 | 100 |
Timeline
Related cases
- United States v. Binance Holdings Limited and United States v. Changpeng ZhaoUS Department of Justice and US District Court for the Western District of Washington. Criminal. Not published.Stage: Corporate guilty plea with monitor. Founder sentenced and later pardonedS1S2
Revision history
- Assessment first published with label Supported.
Have a record that changes this assessment? See corrections and responses.
Sources
- S2Tier A Clemency Grants by President Donald J. Trump (2025-Present)US Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney. Government press release. 21 October 2025 (entry date).Official list recording the founder's pardon, offence, district and sentence. It does not concern the corporate plea.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S1Tier A Binance and CEO Plead Guilty to Federal Charges in $4B ResolutionUS Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. Regulator press release. 21 November 2023.Supports the corporate and founder pleas, the amount and the monitor. It does not cover later events.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
Other claims about Binance Holdings Limited
- Supported92The US Department of Justice said on 21 November 2023 that Binance pleaded guilty to anti-money laundering, unlicensed money transmitting and sanctions violations and agreed to pay over US$4 billion.Regulator statement, 21 November 20233 records citedMoney laundering
- Outdated89The SEC charged Binance, two Binance.US entities and Binance's founder in June 2023 with violating US securities laws.Regulator statement, 5 June 20233 records citedMarket conduct
- Unresolved58Nigerian authorities charged Binance with tax offences and, with a detained executive, with money laundering in 2024.Press report, 24 October 20244 records citedMoney laundering