Trump Might Be Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto, Changpeng Zhao Muses After Pardon From US President

In a tongue-in-cheek comment that stirred the crypto community, Changpeng Zhao, popularly known as CZ and the co-founder of Binance, suggested that US President Donald Trump and Bitcoin’s elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, might be one and the same.The remarks came shortly after CZ received a presidential pardon, announced by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The pardon, which addressed charges brought against Zhao by the Biden Administration amid its regulatory crackdown on the cryptocurrency sector, was framed as an exercise of President Trump’s constitutional authority.Binance had spent nearly a year pursuing the pardon, according to the Wall Street Journal. CZ, who served a four-month prison sentence in 2023 for pleading guilty to anti-money laundering (AML) violations, was released in September 2024. Following his release, he took to X (formerly Twitter) to comment on Trump’s own statement regarding the pardon. Trump had remarked, “Let me just tell you that he was somebody that, as I was told, I don’t know him, I don’t believe I’ve ever met him … he had a lot of support, and they said that what he did is not even a crime.”Related News | Trump Pardons Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao – What Did The Crypto Tycoon Do?In response, CZ acknowledged Trump’s claim of never having met him and mused, “It would be my honor someday. President Trump and Satoshi. Might be the same person.” The playful suggestion sparked a flurry of reactions across social media, blending speculation with humor in the crypto world.The pardon lifts restrictions that had prevented Zhao from running financial ventures, though it remains unclear how it affects his standing with US regulators or his ability to directly lead Binance. Zhao expressed his gratitude on social media, writing that he was “deeply grateful for today’s pardon and to President Trump for upholding America’s commitment to fairness, innovation, and justice.” Binance called the decision “incredible news.”The pardon comes amid Trump’s ongoing efforts to cultivate a friendlier regulatory environment for digital assets. Since releasing his own coin shortly before his inauguration in January, Trump has loosened regulations, advocated for the creation of a national cryptocurrency reserve, and pushed to make it easier for Americans to use retirement savings for digital asset investments.Before the pardon, Zhao’s companies had collaborated with Trump-linked firms on new digital currency projects, including Dominari Holdings, where Trump’s sons sit on the board of advisers. The Trump family’s crypto firm, World Liberty Financial, has also reportedly held talks with Binance representatives. Trump’s administration previously halted a fraud case against crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, who invested in WFLI, and has pardoned other figures in the crypto space, including the founders of BitMex and Ross Ulbricht of the Silk Road marketplace.