Legal representatives for Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the ex-CEO of Binance, have requested a U.S. federal court to allow Zhao to travel back to his residence in the United Arab Emirates. This request follows his guilty plea to charges of money laundering. Zhao, having resigned from his role at Binance amid a multi-billion dollar agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, is potentially facing a decade in prison. Although a magistrate has approved his travel, the Department of Justice is contesting this decision, with U.S. District Judge Richard Jones yet to make a final ruling.
Zhao, a Canadian and UAE citizen, is argued by his lawyers not to be a flight risk. They emphasize his voluntary court appearance and argue that his family ties in the UAE should not be seen as a risk factor. They highlighted his recent fatherhood to his third child as a reason to allow him to stay in the UAE, both for familial support and to prepare for his sentencing in the U.S.
The Justice Department has not yet commented on this matter. Judge Jones is anticipated to make a decision on Zhao's travel request shortly.
Meanwhile, Binance, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, is facing scrutiny from U.S. federal agencies. As part of a recent settlement, Binance officials acknowledged failures in preventing money laundering and illegally operating in the U.S. This included allowing transactions with traders from countries under U.S. sanctions. Binance has also been accused of facilitating illegal activities by not effectively screening out malicious actors.
Zhao himself admitted to neglecting certain security measures and not reporting suspicious activities as required, as revealed in recent court filings.
