Crypto Community Rallies Behind Binance Founder Despite Jail Term
Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, the founder of Binance, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange, has begun serving his prison sentence at a low-security facility in Lompoc, California. This news, confirmed by CZ’s legal team at Latham and Watkins, has sparked a wave of support from the crypto community.
Community Stands by CZ
Many within the crypto world have expressed admiration for CZ’s actions. On Reddit, a user named Ilsemprelaziale pointed out that the prison sentence might actually benefit Binance in the long run. They argued that CZ’s actions, including pleading guilty and stepping down as CEO, have shielded Binance from potentially devastating consequences if the exchange had faced a collapse similar to that of FTX. Essentially, CZ took responsibility and fell on the sword to protect the company.
Following his sentencing, CZ revealed his plans for the future. He intends to remain actively involved in the cryptocurrency market after completing his four-month sentence. This includes maintaining his existing crypto holdings and engaging in passive investment strategies, demonstrating his continued faith and commitment to digital assets. CZ also emphasized the importance of regulatory compliance, highlighting that this incident marks “a new stage for the crypto industry.”
Sentencing and Legal Case
Back in April, during a hearing at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Judge Richard Jones sentenced CZ to four months in prison on charges related to money laundering that occurred on the Binance platform. He was also ordered to pay a $50 million fine. This sentence was significantly less than the three years initially sought by federal prosecutors. CZ’s legal team had argued for a five-month probationary period instead of jail time.
Prior to his sentencing, CZ expressed remorse for his actions, stating that he had used his time to reflect and acknowledge his responsibility for Binance’s failure to implement a proper Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program. Following the judge’s decision, CZ agreed to report to prison at a designated date.
In November 2023, CZ reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. government to resolve a multi-year investigation into Binance. As part of this settlement, CZ resigned from his position as CEO of the company. The U.S. also imposed a $4.3 billion fine and forfeiture penalty on Binance for “civil regulatory enforcement actions.” Additionally, CZ agreed to pay a personal fine of $50 million.
