According to The Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump is exploring a potential deal to become a co-owner of Binance’s U.S. division. Sources suggest that the partnership could be structured through World Liberty Financial, a crypto project run by Trump’s sons.

Why Is Trump Interested in Binance?

In late 2023, Binance pleaded guilty to violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws and agreed to pay a $4.3 billion fine. As a result, its founder, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), spent four months in prison and had to step down as CEO.

Now, CZ is reportedly seeking a presidential pardon from Trump, which could help Binance regain access to U.S. and European financial markets, where individuals convicted of financial crimes are restricted from obtaining business licenses.

Binance’s Plan to Re-Enter the U.S. Market

After Trump’s 2024 election victory, Binance formed a task force led by CEO Richard Teng to explore ways to legally return to the U.S. crypto market.

Insiders claim Binance is considering a strategy similar to Justin Sun’s case. In November 2024, Sun invested $30 million in World Liberty Financial, while the SEC was investigating him. Shortly after, the SEC suspended its case, raising speculation about the influence of such deals.

Recent Binance Actions

Amid these developments, Binance has taken steps to clean up its platform, recently banning market makers GoPlus Security (GPS) and MyShell (SHELL) for violating trading rules. Their earnings were confiscated to compensate affected users.

What’s Next?

Trump’s potential involvement in Binance US could reshape the crypto regulatory landscape in the U.S. and strengthen Binance’s position in global markets. However, the political and legal implications remain uncertain.