Binance founder Changpeng Zhao says he would channel a potential multibillion-dollar refund straight back into the United States, but only if a reimbursement is granted in the first place.
Responding to questions on X about whether he expects a return of the $4.3 billion paid in penalties as part of his U.S. settlement, Zhao called it a “delicate question,” stressing that he already appreciates the pardon he received.
Still, CZ noted that if any portion of the payment is refunded, “we will be investing that in America anyway, to show our appreciation,” adding that he has not asked for a refund and is weighing what counts as “fair.”
The discussion comes as Binance continues navigating the consequences of a sweeping regulatory crackdown. In June 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged Binance, Binance.US operator BAM Trading, and Zhao with operating unregistered exchanges and broker-dealers, misrepresenting trading controls, and illegally offering securities.
The SEC alleged that Binance secretly allowed high-value U.S. traders onto its global platform, commingled customer funds, and diverted assets to entities controlled by Zhao, including Sigma Chain and Merit Peak. Regulators also claimed that Binance.US’s supposed independence was a façade, with Zhao exercising behind-the-scenes control.
Despite these setbacks, Binance remains the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume. The company processed $7.3 trillion in trading activity in 2024 and reported $16.8 billion in revenue, even as its net income dipped 7% year over year.
The exchange counts roughly 25 million funded accounts, while Richard Teng, who took over after Zhao’s 2023 guilty plea, continues steering the firm through ongoing compliance reforms and global regulatory scrutiny.
Zhao’s remarks hint at an effort to strike a conciliatory tone with U.S. authorities while signaling confidence in the company’s future. For now, he appears focused on rebuilding trust and framing any potential refund not as a personal recovery but as capital to be reinvested in the very market that once pursued him.
Source: https://zycrypto.com/former-binance-ceo-to-throw-in-4-3-billion-into-us-market-if-this-happens/
