Changpeng Zhao
Last changed 2026-10-10 · Score recalculated — Rescored under Scoring v2, the published formula (avoid.net/scoring): 8 → 30. Problems weighed by who is responsible: the subject's own conduct −40, concerns that are not fraud −3.2, problems around the subject, caused by others −1.6; legitimacy credit long-running +10; fact-check adjustments (−10) now shown as page reliability, not in the score. Version history →
Why this score
| Every page starts at | 65 |
| The subject's own conduct | -40 |
| Concerns that are not fraud | -3.2 |
| Problems around it, caused by others | -1.6 |
| Long-running | +10 |
| Sum | 30 |
Score: 30/100 (kept between 0 and 100)
How scoring works →Summary
Changpeng Zhao (CZ), born February 10, 1977, is the founder and former CEO of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. On November 21, 2023, Zhao pleaded guilty to a federal charge of failing to implement an effective anti-money laundering (AML) program under the Bank Secrecy Act, as part of a landmark $4.3 billion resolution between Binance and U.S. federal regulators. He was sentenced to four months in federal prison in April 2024, served that term, and was subsequently pardoned by President Donald Trump in October 2025.
Connected Entities
3 entities · 60 linked investigations- Binance→mentioned with→Changpeng Zhao(80%)
- Changpeng Zhao→mentioned with→Binance(80%)
- Changpeng Zhao→mentioned with→Bitcoin(60%)
Timeline(10 events)
5 February 1977
Changpeng Zhao born in Jiangsu, China
July 2017
Binance launched; becomes world's largest crypto exchange by trading volume within 180 days
27 March 2023
CFTC files civil enforcement action against Binance and Zhao for willful evasion of the Commodity Exchange Act and illegal derivatives exchange operation
21 November 2023
Zhao pleads guilty in Seattle federal court to Bank Secrecy Act violation; Binance settles with DOJ, FinCEN, OFAC, and CFTC for combined penalties exceeding $4.3 billion; Zhao resigns as Binance CEO
30 April 2024
U.S. District Judge Richard Jones sentences Zhao to four months in federal prison, below the three-year term sought by prosecutors; personal fine of $50 million
3 June 2024
Zhao reports to federal prison facility in Lompoc, California
27 September 2024
Zhao released from federal custody two days ahead of scheduled release date
23 October 2025
President Donald Trump issues presidential pardon to Changpeng Zhao, generating bipartisan criticism and scrutiny over Trump family crypto business ties to Binance
24 November 2025
More than 300 October 7 attack victims and family members file suit against Binance and Zhao under the Anti-Terrorism Act seeking treble damages, alleging over $1 billion in Hamas-linked transactions
12 March 2026
Fortune reports ongoing DOJ investigation into Iranian sanctions evasion through Binance VIP accounts, with internal investigators identifying transfers exceeding $1 billion to Iran-linked entities
Decision Log
- slot 455360865 · hash GUNhT3Jyq1L69M2F7phuLruCPjnbFXFTaqf4iPPNZ2LC
- slot 445506094 · hash 4mWkHVTv8tQ3H8VC5Yr4oUdUwvfaZkWcjMAuCNyKwzvK
- slot 426262056 · hash 5Yoh39HWAP6QKoHipaxvUaB66Y31ZngNM64Dge28JGgi
- slot 426262051 · hash 48fx2Z6qVJhieisniTCz9qT3v65YGkBSpR4wfRFE3Nzi
- slot 423211465 · hash 5Ppqvs5hrtPzpT7PFTA3S5JMPQNcTAVUoG6pcantuNbM
This investigation is cryptographically anchored to the Solana blockchain (5 decisions). 25 of 26 cited source URLs have an Internet Archive snapshot.
model: claude-sonnet-4-6
generated: 5/30/2026, 6:32:17 PM
last updated: 10/10/2026, 6:41:41 PM
13 viewsavoid.net — verified advice for a post-truth world