Binance Founder to Reinvest $4.3B in the U.S. if Refunded by DOJ

Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao said he would reinvest any potential refund of the $4.3 billion fine back into the United States after receiving a presidential pardon. This comes after a long legal fight that included record fines and heavy government scrutiny.

CZ’s plan to reinvest could mark a fresh start for him, Binance, and the U.S. crypto market..

Binance Founder Pardoned, Plans Possible U.S. Reinvestment

In 2023, Binance made a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and other regulators, agreeing to pay a record $4.3 billion fine. CZ, the founder, faced charges for running a money business without a license and admitted to breaking the Bank Secrecy Act.

After this, CZ stepped down as Binance’s CEO and paid a personal fine of $50 million. The deal was seen as the biggest legal action ever in the crypto world. It also forced Binance to leave the U.S. market, limiting its activities there and changing the company’s global plans.

In October, President Trump issued a pardon for CZ, a move that sparked intense discussion across political and crypto communities. Here’s a two-sentence version:

When asked on X (formerly Twitter), if he would ask for the $4.3 billion fine back, CZ said he had not done so yet. He added that if it were returned, he planned to reinvest it in the United States as a thank-you gesture.

He stressed the importance of being fair and open, saying that any reinvestment would be done responsibly. His announcement has given hope that Binance might return to the U.S. market.

Binance Pardon Sparks Speculation, Company Denies Wrongdoing

The pardon prompted speculation about whether back channels were used to secure leniency. Binance’s lawyers denied the claims. 

The legal team said that blockchain transactions are clear, and any illegal payment would be easy to track. The White House also cleared the air, saying the pardon was fair and not influenced by anyone or political motives. 

Critics did not stop there; the controversy intensified as  U.S. lawmakers accused Binance of working with projects connected to President Donald Trump’s family. This includes the World Liberty Financial (WLFI) and the newly listed stablecoin USD1

Reports suggested Binance was developing technology for World Liberty’s USD1 stablecoin, a claim CZ has publicly denied and threatened to litigate.

Binance Gets $2B Investment as SEC Drops Lawsuit

Despite the legal turmoil, Binance continues to attract global investment. A UAE investment group is reportedly staking $2 billion in the company, using the USD1 stablecoin as part of the arrangement. 

Earlier this year, Binance promoted USD1 on its PancakeSwap exchange, which now operates on the BNB Chain. Additionally, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dropped its civil lawsuit against the exchange after nearly three years of litigation. 

This development, coupled with the presidential pardon, opens the door for Binance to potentially resume full operations in the United States.