In a surprising revelation during an interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes, former US President Donald Trump stated that he does not know who Changpeng Zhao, the co-founder of cryptocurrency giant Binance, is. This statement comes despite Trump having pardoned Zhao last month. Zhao, commonly known as ‘CZ’, had pleaded guilty to enabling money laundering in 2023, served four months in prison, and stepped down as Binance’s CEO. His companies have collaborated with firms linked to Trump, including Dominari Holdings, which is based in Trump Tower and has Trump’s sons on its advisory board. When questioned about the pardon, Trump responded, ‘I don’t know who he is,’ and claimed that Zhao was a victim of a ‘witch hunt’ by the Biden administration. Trump also emphasized the importance of the US leading in the cryptocurrency industry to prevent China and other rivals from gaining an advantage. The pardon removes restrictions on Zhao’s financial ventures, but its impact on his regulatory standing and role at Binance remains unclear. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the pardon, calling Zhao’s prosecution an ‘overreach’ by the Biden administration. Binance continues to be the world’s most used crypto exchange. Trump’s administration has a history of halting cases against crypto entrepreneurs, including Justin Sun and the founders of BitMEX and Silk Road.