Donald Trump pardon Binance founder Changpeng Zhao

US President Donald Trump don pardon Changpeng Zhao, di founder of di world largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance.

Court bin sentence Zhao, wey also dey known as "CZ", to four months in prison for April 2024 afta e plead guilty to violating US money laundering laws.

Binance bin dey ordered to pay $4.3bn (£3.4bn) afta one US investigation discova say e help users bypass sanctions.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt bin call Zhao prosecution under di Biden administration part of a "war on cryptocurrency".

She claim say na target dem target Zhao "despite say no allegations of fraud or identifiable victim", and add say prosecutors efforts to land am three-year prison sentence bin "severely damage di United States reputation".

"Di Biden Administration war on crypto dey ova," she tok.

Di move to pardon Zhao dey come for di middle of Trump administration adoption of a more friendly stance towards cryptocurrency pass dat of im predecessors.

Di President don vow to make America di "crypto capital" of di world. E even make im own mark for di digital currency landscape as e release im own coin shortly ahead of im inauguration for January.

Since den, e don try to establish one national cryptocurrency reserve and e don push to make am easier for Americans to use dia retirement savings to invest in dem.

Di Wall Street Journal bin report bifor say representatives of di Trump family - wey get dia own crypto firm World Liberty Financial - recently follow Binance tok.

Di company don spend nearly one year dey find pardon for dia former boss, wey complete im four month prison sentence for September 2024, di WSJ report on Thursday.

BBC don approach Binance for comment.

Di exchange, wey dey registered for di Cayman Islands, remain di world most popular platform for buying and selling cryptocurrencies plus oda digital assets.

Zhao bin step down from di company for November 2023.

E bin write for im post on X say "e no dey easy to let go emotionally" but "na di right tin to do".

"I make mistakes, and I must take responsibility," e tok.

US officials at di time bin accuse Binance and Zhao of "wilful violations" of dia laws - dem say e threaten di US financial system and national security.

"Binance turn blind eye to dia legal obligations for di pursuit of profit," di then-Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen tok.

"Na wilful failures allow money to flow to terrorists, cybercriminals, and child abusers through dia platform."

Biden issue pre-emptive pardons to son, siblings, Fauci and Jan 6 riot panel

For di tail end of im presidency, Joe Biden bin pardon several family members, wey include im brothers James and Frank Biden, and sister Valerie Biden Owens.

Biden tok say di pardons na to shield im family from politically motivated attacks and make pipo no mistake am as acknowledgment of any wrongdoing.

Di eleventh-hour move bin follow anoda set of pardons e release to Covid response chief Anthony Fauci and members of di 6 January riot investigation to prevent wetin e call "unjustified... politically motivated prosecutions".

Di then president say: "Our nation owe dis public servants debt of gratitude for dia tireless commitment."

In addition to im siblings, Biden bin issue pardons to im sister-in-law Sara Jones Biden and im brother-in-law John Owens.

Bifor den, e don announce pardon for im son, Hunter Biden, wey bin dey face jail term for two criminal cases.

Biden also reduce di life sentence of indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, wey bin dey serve life sentence for di 1975 murder of two FBI agents. Peltier sentence go now transition to house arrest, Biden bin tok for statement.

Biden also issue pre-emptive pardon to Mark Milley, one former chairman of di Joint Chiefs of Staff, wey conservatives accuse of "treason".

Wetin be presidential pardon?

Di US Constitution tok say a president get di "power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against di United States, except in cases of impeachment".

Di pardon represent legal forgiveness, end any further punishment and restore rights like to dey able to vote or run for public office.

Although di pardoning power dey considered broad, e no dey limitless. For example, a president fit only issue pardons for federal or national-level crimes.

Presidents fit also reduce prison sentences wey federal court or di District of Columbia Superior Court for Washington order.