US President Donald Trump has signed an executive pardon for Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the former Binance CEO who pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program. In a recent 60 Minutes interview, Trump reiterated his aim to make America the crypto capital of the world and expressed confidence in the industry’s potential.
Trump stated that making America number one in crypto is crucial and believes that China should not be allowed to take over the industry. He also claimed that former President Joe Biden’s change in stance on crypto during his reelection campaign was unsuccessful, as people still voted for him.
The president mentioned that he himself changed his opinion on crypto in 2024 and now has three sons involved in the industry. He signed executive orders shortly after taking office to establish a working group for digital asset policy and created a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile.
Trump expressed confidence in making America the top crypto destination, stating that it’s an industry where one country will be number one and the others won’t be able to compete. He also mentioned that his administration has dismissed lawsuits against various crypto entities, including Coinbase and Gemini.
However, Trump was asked about the appearance of corruption in the pardon process, and he claimed not to be concerned, citing America’s dominance in the crypto industry. The pardon for CZ has sparked controversy, with Zhao’s lawyer demanding an immediate retraction from Senator Elizabeth Warren and Zhao reportedly considering a libel lawsuit against her.
Source: https://www.theblock.co/post/377296/trump-talks-crypto-corruption-changpeng-zhao-60-minutes-interview