{"id":850489,"date":"2025-05-23T09:11:45","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T14:11:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/23\/cz-refutes-claims-in-latest-wsj-article-on-trump-linked-crypto-dealings\/"},"modified":"2025-05-23T09:11:45","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T14:11:45","slug":"cz-refutes-claims-in-latest-wsj-article-on-trump-linked-crypto-dealings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/23\/cz-refutes-claims-in-latest-wsj-article-on-trump-linked-crypto-dealings\/","title":{"rendered":"CZ refutes claims in latest WSJ article on Trump-linked crypto dealings"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Binance co-founder and former CEO Changpeng \u201cCZ\u201d Zhao has pushed back against a report in The Wall Street Journal, calling it a \u201chit piece\u201d filled with inaccuracies and negative assumptions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In an X post, Zhao criticized<\/a> the publication\u2019s portrayal of his alleged involvement with World Liberty Financial, the decentralized finance project backed by a business entity affiliated with US President Donald Trump. Trump\u2019s sons \u2014\u00a0Eric and Donald Jr. \u2014are involved in the management of the company.<\/p>\n

Zhao said the WSJ article<\/a> portrayed him as acting as a \u201cfixer\u201d for the WLF team and its co-founder Zach Witkoff during foreign trips.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The article suggested Zhao facilitated introductions and meetings for WLF leaders during foreign trips, including a visit to Pakistan that reportedly resulted in a memorandum of understanding with a local official.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not a fixer for anyone,\u201d Zhao said, firmly denying that he connected Pakistani official \u201cMr. Saqib\u201d with WLF or organized any engagements abroad. \u201cThey had known each other way back, whereas I only met with Mr. Saqib for the first time in Pakistan.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Source: <\/em>Changpeng Zhao<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

WSJ reports on Steve and Zach Witkoff<\/h2>\n

Zhao\u2019s response follows a WSJ investigation highlighting<\/a> a complex string of diplomatic and business interests involving WLF.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The report raised concerns about the blurred lines between public duties and private interests and focused on diplomatic and business dealings involving WLF co-founders Steve Witkoff and his son, Zach Witkoff. Steve Witkoff serves as the US Special Envoy to the Middle East under the Trump administration, while Zach Witkoff has been involved in securing a reported $2 billion crypto deal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The report raised questions about whether diplomatic efforts overlapped with private crypto ventures, and implied Zhao may have been attempting to curry favor with the Trump administration<\/p>\n

On May 6, Zhao confirmed that he is seeking a pardon<\/a> from the Trump administration for his earlier money laundering conviction.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The report also highlighted that WLFI, which raised over $600 million<\/a> in token sales, does not disclose the names of all its investors aside from some publicly known ones like Tron founder Justin Sun, who attended Trump\u2019s memecoin dinner<\/a> on May 22.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Trump hosted the dinner for the largest investors of his Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin. Sun, Magic Eden CEO Jack Lu and BitMart CEO Sheldon Xia were among attendees and shared photos of the event.<\/p>\n

Related: <\/strong><\/em>Binance scores legal win as UK court partially dismisses Bitcoin SV lawsuit<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Zhao claims the WSJ report is an \u201cattack\u201d on crypto\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Zhao claimed the WSJ submitted a list of questions containing what he described as \u201cwrong and negative assumptions.\u201d He and his public relations team responded by pointing out several factual inaccuracies, he said, but concluded that the article was \u201cbuilt on a flawed narrative.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zhao slammed the WSJ, calling it a \u201cmouthpiece\u201d for anti-crypto forces in the United States. He said the forces behind the publication want to hinder efforts to make the US a crypto capital.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey want to attack crypto, global crypto leaders and the pro-crypto administration,\u201d CZ claimed, saying the article is part of a broader effort to stifle the industry\u2019s growth in the US.<\/p>\n

This is not the first time Zhao has clapped back at the WSJ recently. In an April 11 report, the publication cited anonymous sources alleging that Zhao agreed to testify<\/a> against Tron founder Justin Sun as he settled with US prosecutors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

CZ dismissed the report, saying that people who become government witnesses don\u2019t go to prison and are protected. CZ also claimed that someone paid WSJ employees to smear his name.<\/p>\n