Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, has resumed a highly influential role in crypto after serving a four-month U.S. prison sentence for violating anti-money-laundering laws. Zhao, who was released in 2024 and pardoned by President Trump in October 2025, lives in Abu Dhabi, remains Binance’s controlling shareholder and advises governments on crypto policy while traveling across Asia by private jet. The New York Times profile details his deepening relationships with UAE leaders and the Trump family, including a $2 billion MGX investment in Binance that was settled in World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin. The arrangement made World Liberty a major stablecoin issuer and drew criticism from congressional Democrats, while Zhao denied wrongdoing. Binance continues to face compliance questions: former employees alleged that nearly $2 billion moved from customer accounts to Iran-linked entities, and two staff members were briefly detained in the UAE during a local financial-crime investigation.