CZ’s Pardon Came After Costly Binance Lobbying Push in Washington: Politico

Why It Matters

The revelations highlight how substantial lobbying outlays can influence political outcomes, raising questions about regulatory capture and potential reputational and policy risks for Binance and the broader crypto industry.

Summary

Politico reports that Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s presidential pardon followed a targeted Washington lobbying campaign that paid $450,000 to Trump-linked lobbyists and $290,000 to former SEC chair contender Teresa Goody Guillén. The expenditure-backed push came as Binance faced intense regulatory scrutiny and criminal charges, and the pardon removes a major legal cloud over the company and its founder. The revelations highlight how substantial lobbying outlays can influence political outcomes, raising questions about regulatory capture and potential reputational and policy risks for Binance and the broader crypto industry.