Binance founder and former Chief Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has received a presidential pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump, closing the book on one of the most closely watched cases in digital-asset enforcement.

Zhao was sentenced in April 2024 to four months in prison after pleading guilty to a single count tied to U.S. anti-money-laundering compliance. He completed that sentence in September 2024. As part of the broader resolution with U.S. authorities, Binance agreed to pay $4.3 billion and implement enhanced controls after investigators said the exchange enabled some users to evade sanctions.

In announcing the pardon, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt framed Zhao’s prosecution—initiated under the previous administration—as emblematic of a wider “war on cryptocurrency,” arguing there were “no allegations of fraud or identifiable victims,” and that an earlier push for a multi-year sentence had harmed U.S. credibility. “The Biden Administration’s war on crypto is over,” she said.

What Makes This Case Unusual...

Supporters note Zhao is, by their accounting, the first known first-time offender to receive a custodial sentence for this particular non-fraud charge. The sentencing judge found no evidence Zhao knowingly facilitated illicit transactions and said it was reasonable for him to believe illicit funds were not present on the platform. The pardon doesn’t rewrite that record, but it does erase remaining federal consequences for Zhao personally.

Policy Context: A Clearer Pro-Crypto Pivot...

The move aligns with the Trump administration’s more accommodating posture toward digital assets. Since taking office in January, the President has:

Pledged to make the U.S. the world’s “crypto capital.”

Floated the concept of a national cryptocurrency reserve.

Backed efforts to make it easier for Americans to allocate retirement savings to digital assets.

Released his own token ahead of inauguration, placing crypto squarely in the political mainstream—supporters call it pragmatic adoption; critics see it as performative.

The Road Ahead...

Zhao stepped down as Binance CEO in November 2023, calling the decision “not easy to let go emotionally” but “the right thing to do.” Binance—registered in the Cayman Islands—remains the largest venue globally for trading crypto and other digital assets by volume. The company has reportedly pursued clemency for nearly a year, while fielding ongoing regulatory obligations under its settlement.

Separate reports have described conversations between representatives of the Trump family—whose World Liberty Financial is active in crypto—and Binance. Those talks, as characterized publicly, centered on the sector’s direction and policy environment rather than any announced transaction.

Why Markets Care...

Regulatory temperature check: A presidential pardon doesn’t alter the compliance requirements facing exchanges, but it does signal a friendlier top-down stance—potentially easing perceived headline risk for U.S. institutions on the sidelines.

Talent gravity: With the cloud over CZ lifted, founders and executives may view the U.S. as incrementally less adversarial, provided firms invest in controls and cooperate early.

Policy runway: Initiatives like a crypto reserve or retirement-account access still require legislative and agency follow-through. Today’s signal is political; the operational changes will come down to rulemaking and inter-agency coordination.

The Other Side of the Ledger...

Critics of the pardon will argue that compliance lapses at major platforms have real national-security implications and that accountability at the top deters future abuse. Expect renewed debate on whether executive clemency undermines deterrence—or simply corrects an outlier outcome for a non-fraud case.

Bottom Line...

Zhao’s pardon is a symbolic endcap to a multi-year saga and a strong indicator of where the current administration wants crypto policy to go: normalization instead of stigmatization, with an emphasis on building within the rules rather than litigating against the industry. The regulatory playbook hasn’t vanished; the posture has.

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Author: Jules Laurent
Euro Newsroom | Breaking Crypto News 

Abu Dhabi, UAE - The Global Blockchain Show 2025 will take place at the prestigious Space42 Arena in Abu Dhabi from December 10–11, 2025, bringing together the world's top Web3 and blockchain specialists. Considered one of the leading conferences for decentralized innovation globally, the event will showcase creative ideas, stimulating conversations, and revolutionary solutions driving the next wave of digital transformation.

Supported by the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau and arranged in association with Times of Blockchain, the Global Blockchain Show enhances the UAE's reputation as a world hub for blockchain innovation and quality.

This year's schedule is packed with high-level discussions, technical courses, and well-selected networking opportunities. The agenda includes in-depth discussions of tokenization, DeFi, digital assets, Web3 gaming, AI-blockchain convergence, enterprise blockchain adoption, and regulatory clarity. The program's objective is to create a collaborative setting where policymakers, startups, investors, and entrepreneurs can exchange ideas and create new growth opportunities.

The pace is being accelerated by the speaker schedule, which features some of the most prominent names in the industry.

One of the exceptional speakers scheduled for this year's event is Yat Siu, a visionary entrepreneur and co-founder of Animoca Brands, a world leader in intellectual property rights for gaming and the open metaverse. Siu has been instrumental in encouraging the broad use of NFTs and blockchain-based gaming.

Sergej Kunz, co-founder of the popular decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator 1inch Network, has made significant progress on DeFi by giving customers safe and effective ways to exchange digital assets.

Akshat Vaidya, a managing partner and co-founder, oversees Maelstrom's venture, liquid, and buyout investment deal strategy. Akshat brings a wealth of strategic investment experience to the table, having led M&A at BitMEX and carried out leveraged buyouts at Granite Creek Capital Partners. He has established himself in the blockchain investment community since graduating from the Wharton School.

Andy Tang, the managing partner of Draper Dragon, has over 20 years of experience in venture capital. Tang has seeded more than 15 unicorn companies in the domains of software, blockchain, fintech, AI, and healthcare. His insightful observations and venture capital experience have made him a respected voice in the global innovation ecosystem.

Tether co-founder and stablecoin pioneer Reeve Collins. To bridge the gap between fiat and blockchain, Collins, a seasoned businessman, developed Tether, one of the most innovative digital assets ever. Currently, he is in charge of projects like TreasuryX, WeFi, and SuperSol that are pushing the boundaries of Web3 adoption.

"The Global Blockchain Show is proud to have played a part in Abu Dhabi's rapid ascent to prominence as a leading center for Web3 innovation. This year's event will highlight technology while also highlighting the crucial collaborations that drive real adoption and impact.” stated Vishal Parmar, VAP Group's Founder and CEO. 

The exhibit depicts the UAE's growing status as a global hub for blockchain innovation and is set against the technologically sophisticated backdrop of Abu Dhabi.

Early-bird pricing is offered for a limited period, and tickets are now available. Sign Up Now

About the Global Blockchain Show

The Global Blockchain Show is one of the most important international gatherings focused on the future of decentralized technology. It brings together regulators, investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to shape the narrative of blockchain adoption across industries.

The Global Blockchain Show 2025 is anticipated to draw thousands of attendees, making it a historic event that will influence the relationships, discussions, and tactics that will shape the blockchain landscape for years to come.

Event Details:
Venue: Space42 Arena, Abu Dhabi
Date: 10–11 December 2025
Official Partner: Times of Blockchain
Wesbite : Global Blockchain Show

About VAP Group: A leading AI, Blockchain, and Gaming consulting giant driving AI and Web3 solutions over the past 12 years under the flagship events that are globally renowned under the brand of Global AI Show, Global Games Show, and Global Blockchain Show. With a strong footprint in the UAE, UK, India, and Hong Kong, our expert team of over 170 professionals ensures that our clients remain at the forefront of innovation. We drive innovation through Strategic PR and Marketing, Bounty Campaigns, and Global Events that showcase the brightest minds in the transformative fields of Web3, AI, and Gaming. We also offer services in advertising and media, as well as staffing.

Press Contact:
Public Relations Team | media@globalaishow.com

Thanks to government incentives boosting wind and solar investments, Brazil is now generating more energy than they can use. But energy storage hasn't quite caught up, so if the energy generated isn't being used, it's just wasted, with some plants wasting up to 70% of their juice. Enter crypto miners: flexible energy consumers who can scale operations up or down faster than you can say "blockchain," helping balance supply without stressing the grid.

Crypto mining companies are making a beeline for Brazil's surplus renewable energy — with several firms negotiating deals with local electricity providers to tap into wind and solar power that otherwise goes to waste.

Renova Energia is already investing $200 million in a massive mining project powered by wind farms in Bahia. Meanwhile, companies like Enegix have proposed building mobile data centers plugged directly into power plants — turning previously wasted energy into profit. 

Of course, it's not all sunshine and rainbows; concerns about water use during droughts and regulatory gaps linger. Still, Brazil's clean energy boom is turning crypto mining from an energy hog into a potential diamond in the rough.

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Author: Adam Lee 
Asia News Desk / Breaking Crypto News

Walmart’s fintech affiliate OnePay is planning a crypto upgrade. According to AInvest the company will add Bitcoin and Ethereum trading to its mobile app later this year as part of its ambition to build a U.S.‑style “super app”

The expansion will let users hold, buy and sell digital coins and convert them to cash for shopping at Walmart or paying card balances.

OnePay launched in 2021 as a joint venture between Walmart and Ribbit Capital and already offers high‑yield savings, credit and debit cards, BNPL loans and wireless phone plans

OnePay isn’t going it alone...

The company will partner with Zerohash, a crypto‑infrastructure startup, to handle custody and trading. This avoids the headache of building a trading stack from scratch. The app currently ranks No. 5 among free finance apps on Apple’s App Store and already has a built‑in advantage: Walmart’s network of roughly 150 million U.S. shoppers per week

Adding crypto support should help close the competitive gap with rivals like PayPal and Cash App, most of which already offer some form of crypto services. The move reflects a broader trend — even Morgan Stanley’s E‑Trade is preparing to offer direct crypto exposure to clients.

Zerohash recently raised $104 million to scale its platform as more banks and fintech firms chase the crypto crowd.

The 'Super App' Concept is Also Elon Musk's Goal for X...

It's now a race between Musk and Walmart, this move puts Walmart ahead in the race when it comes to payments, and X leaps ahead when it comes to the app being used for people to communicate.

It seems much easier for Musk to add payment features than it will be for Walmart to get customers to even think of their app as a social platform.

Both are trying to make a US version of China's WeChat, which is a messenger app that Chinese citizens now use for a huge portion of financial transactions. 

My take..

Partnering with Zerohash is a smart move for OnePay — better to rent the plumbing than to reinvent it. 

The bigger question is whether grandma will really trade Bitcoin while picking up groceries, probably not, but frankly, grandma won't be here forever and younger generations are a lot more comfortable blurring the lines between paper money in a wallet and digital currencies in a virtual wallet.

Still, with 150 million shoppers in its orbit, Walmart can introduce crypto to middle America in a way that crypto‑native apps can only dream of. If successful, OnePay’s move could make crypto spending as mundane as buying milk — which is both exciting and oddly depressing for those who remember Bitcoin’s rebellious roots.

On a final note, when attempting to sign up to OnePay to take a look,  I was rejected despite putting in completely accurate information - it's safe to say I'm pretty unimpressed by any app that tells me I am not really me. 

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Author: Oliver Redding
Seattle Newsdesk  / Breaking Crypto News

 “We’re changing finance” they said... well, they did. Now another round of repayments to clean up the mess is that made is on the way. This time, they’re dishing out $1.6 billion to creditors on September 30.

This marks the third big distribution since Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto empire imploded back in November 2022. For those keeping score, previous payouts have already sent more than $6 billion back into the hands of people who once logged in expecting to trade crypto, not accidentally fund a real-life cautionary tale.

The FTX Recovery Trust, the team babysitting what’s left of crypthe empire, says payments will flow through BitGo, Kraken, or Payoneer. As long as creditors have jumped through the verification hoops on the claims portal, they should see the money land in their accounts within three business days. Smooth sailing—well, smoother than the last time they dealt with FTX.

Where things stand:

- FTX.com Customers (Class 5A): Getting an extra 6% this round, which brings them up to about 78% repaid overall.

- FTX.us Customers (Class 5B): A hefty 40% payout this time, pushing them up to 95% repaid in total.

- General Unsecured + Digital Asset Loan Claims (Classes 6A & 6B): Both groups are seeing a 24% distribution in this round, bringing them to 85% overall.

- Then users with under $10k (Class 7) should have recouped 120% following this payment - more than they lost. 

But worth noting, this is based on USD value of their account the on the day FTX shut down, and in many cases users would have earned much more if it all remained in crypto.

When the exchange went under, it didn’t just bruise investor confidence. It helped shove the entire crypto market into a nasty bear phase. And, of course, Sam Bankman-Fried himself ended up convicted on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy. The man who once charmed Congress and celebrities alike now has fewer freedoms than his onetime favorite video game character in League of Legends.

While Some Prison Time is Deserved, The Facts in the End Got Me Thinking...

Thinking back to the day when Sam was sentenced to 25 years in prison -  the courtroom heard gut-wrenching testimony. Several FTX users explained how they’d lost their life savings, their security, their futures—gone overnight. The judge, right after hearing all this devastation, handed down a quarter-century prison term. Case closed, right?

But... none of that ended up happening. 

Fast-forward to now, and the math looks different. Thanks to a little timing and some lucky investments (hello, Solana at under $1), creditors aren’t just being made whole—they’re being paid back at about 125% of their original U.S. dollar balances. In other words: nobody actually lost their life savings after all.

But here’s the kicker—Sam is still serving a sentence fit for someone who ruined thousands of lives. Make no mistake, what he did was fraudulent, reckless, and criminal. He absolutely deserves years behind bars. But 25 years - that's a bill to the taxpayer for roughly $1,100,000! That’s where things feel messy.

Imagine instead: house arrest, an ankle monitor, zero unsupervised internet access, and the entire bill picked up by Sam and his wealthy parents. He’s not a violent offender, I don't think anyone fears him. Keeping him caged for decades doesn’t make us any safer - it just has us paying for his meals really.

The irony is hard to miss: the victims are walking away with more than they lost,  but taxpayers still foot the bill to warehouse Sam for 25 years. Justice? Maybe. Efficient? Not even close.

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Author: Oliver Redding
Seattle Newsdesk  / Breaking Crypto News

Tether, the company behind the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, is making a big move into the American market. On Friday, CEO Paolo Ardoino announced the upcoming launch of a new U.S.-focused stablecoin called USAT, expected to go live by the end of the year.

The new project will be run by Bo Hines, a former White House digital assets official, who will serve as USAT’s CEO. Unlike Tether’s global USDT, USAT is being structured as a U.S. company, with headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina.

What is USAT?

According to its official website, the new stablecoin is designed to give users the “power of the dollar” in digital form. It will be:

-  Fully backed by liquid reserves such as U.S. dollars and short-term Treasuries

-  Issued under U.S. law, specifically the recently passed GENIUS Act, which created the first federal regulatory framework for stablecoins

-  Capable of instant, peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries

Unlike USDT, which is issued offshore, USAT will be issued directly from within the U.S. by Anchorage Digital Bank, a federally chartered crypto bank founded in 2017. Custody services will be provided by Cantor Fitzgerald, a major Wall Street firm.

Why Now?

Ardoino described the launch as a response to growing competition in the U.S. market, particularly from Circle’s USDC, which recently went public in a blockbuster IPO.

“I think it’s a very exciting moment because we were under severe pressure from competitors that want to create a monopolistic environment in the United States,” Ardoino said at the New York press event. “We believe that Tether is the best product in the market.”

Hines echoed the sentiment: “We want people to know that Tether is here to participate in the U.S. economy in a huge way. I think our expansion will be exorbitant over the course of the next 12 to 24 months.”

The Bigger Picture

Tether already plays a massive role in global finance. Its flagship stablecoin, USDT, has a market capitalization of more than $169 billion (CoinGecko). The company is also one of the largest buyers of U.S. Treasury bills, holding more than $33 billion worth as of 2024.

Analysts at J.P. Morgan recently noted that stablecoin issuers could become the third-largest buyers of U.S. government debt in coming years — an eye-opening prospect for both Wall Street and Washington.

The U.S. government has been warming up to stablecoins under the Trump administration. The GENIUS Act, signed into law in July, requires that all stablecoins be backed by high-quality liquid assets and that issuers publish monthly reserve disclosures.

A History of Scrutiny, and an Active Investigation?

Tether’s U.S. expansion comes despite its history of regulatory run-ins. In 2021, the company settled with the New York Attorney General’s office over allegations that it misled investors about the reserves backing USDT, agreeing to provide quarterly reports.

More recently, The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. authorities were looking into whether Tether had violated sanctions or anti-money-laundering rules. Ardoino denied that the company is under investigation.

What’s Next

If USAT launches on schedule, it will directly challenge Circle’s USDC for dominance in the American stablecoin market. By anchoring the project within U.S. regulations and institutions, Tether is clearly signaling that it wants to be more than just the world’s leading offshore stablecoin issuer.

Personally, I find stablecoins hard to get excited about. Of course, I use them regularly and agree with their usefulness - but all I need to be fully satisfied with one is that it holds its value. If several prove to do this reliably, I don't care which one I use. It's just a bit odd seeing competition between coins  that literally do the exact same thing.

---------------
Author: Oliver Redding
Seattle Newsdesk  / Breaking Crypto News

Bitcoin has grown by 29% since the start of 2024, which has led other assets to surge as well.

While Trump’s tariff hikes have caused a “disturbance in the crypto force,” the recent surge shows people are no longer viewing Bitcoin as a speculative asset, but as a true store of value.

As crypto’s value gradually gains global recognition, a question arises: How can ordinary investors participate in the blockchain ecosystem and generate sustainable returns?

A more rational approach is mining. However, traditional mining often faces challenges such as high costs and high technical barriers.

XiuShan Mining’s Cloud Mining Platform

XiuShan Mining keeps things simple through accessibility. Thanks to its remote mining, users do not need to purchase mining machines or manage complex operations and maintenance.

By selecting a computing power package on the platform, users can participate in Bitcoin mining in real time at global mines and receive daily returns based on their computing power share. This significantly lowers the barrier to entry and makes mining profits more transparent and efficient.

In this model, investors transform the risk of a one-time purchase into a sustainable, low-friction way to acquire Bitcoin—truly achieving “easy mining, stable returns.”

XiuShan Mining Cloud Mining Solution

No Equipment Purchase Required: Users do not need to purchase mining machines.

Remote Operation and Maintenance: A professional team manages hardware and computing power scheduling.

Flexible Contracts: Users simply select a computing power package to participate in mining profits in real time.

Transparent Costs: Revenues are transferred into accounts daily.

Users select computing power packages on the XiuShan Mining platform (equivalent to purchasing “productivity”). This system distributes computing power to mining machines worldwide. The miners’ job is to perform mathematical calculations (block verification) and generate Bitcoin rewards.

How to Join XiuShan Mining

Register an account – New users receive a $15 bonus, and daily check-ins earn an additional $0.60.

Select hash rate contract – Supports over ten major cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, and USDT.

Automatically start cloud mining – After purchasing a contract, users can view real-time earnings on their mobile phone.

Daily profit settlement – Stable returns, creating a sustainable, long-term profit model.

XiuShan Mining offers a variety of contracts to meet diverse investment needs. Regardless of the investment amount, the platform informs users of their daily earnings upfront.

After buying a contract, earnings are deposited into the account the very next day.

XiuShan Mining also features a peer-to-peer marketplace where computing power can be bought and sold among cryptocurrency miners.

Today, XiuShan Mining serves more than 1.2 million daily users and also provides a mobile mining app, making participation more remote and accessible.

Conclusion

Remote crypto mining will be the key to making passive income using crypto assets in 2025. Platforms like XiuShan Mining are becoming a top choice for investors due to their superior security, high returns, and excellent user experience.

To learn more about how to start mining, visit the official website at:
https://xiushanmining.com

Or Contact: info@xiushanmining.com

--------------
Information Provided Via Press Release
Crypto Press Release Distribution Network

Most messaging apps today depend on the internet, big companies, and central servers to send your messages - none of the above applies to Bitchat, the new app co-created by Jack Dorsey (former Twitter CEO and co-founder) and Bitcoin developer and long-time privacy advocate Calle.

Bitchat features both messaging, and the ability to send/receive Bitcoin payments. 

The main motivator to create Bitchat was privacy, which is minimal in most popular messengers today,  as your data is being handled by someone else. Bitchat functions so independent from company servers, it doesn't even need an internet connection.   Bitchat doesn’t need the internet to work, and it even lets you send Bitcoin directly.

What Makes Bitchat Different?

1. Privacy First

Bitchat doesn’t ask for your email, phone number, or personal info. That makes it harder for companies, governments, or hackers to snoop on you. It’s built around Bitcoin’s core values: decentralization, censorship resistance, and peer-to-peer freedom.

2. Works Without Internet

Stuck at a festival with no signal? In a rural area? Or even in a power outage? Bitchat still works. That’s because it connects devices directly through something called a mesh network. Your messages hop from one phone to another until they reach the person you’re chatting with.

In fact, during major outages—like the one in April 2025 that knocked out power across parts of Spain, France, and Portugal—Bitchat could have kept people connected.

3. Send Bitcoin Anywhere

Besides chatting, you can also send Bitcoin through the app. No banks, no payment processors—just Bitcoin’s own network. Your phone can even create and sign transactions offline, which then travel through nearby devices until they reach the network.

For merchants, this could be a game-changer. Payments don’t need middlemen, and in the future, integration with the Lightning Network could make transactions even faster and cheaper.

4. Extended Range with Mesh Networks

Normally, Bluetooth works only a short distance. But Bitchat uses Bluetooth mesh networking—your message can jump from phone to phone, extending the range up to 300 meters (or farther if more people are connected). Think of it like a digital relay race.

5. Built on Cypherpunk Ideals

Bitchat isn’t just a tech experiment—it’s a nod to the cypherpunk movement, which values privacy, independence, and control over your own communications.

How It Works...

Local Mesh: Phones connect directly using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Messages hop across devices until they arrive.

Optional Global Mode: If you want to reach beyond local connections, Bitchat can use Nostr—a decentralized protocol that runs through relays on the internet.

Encryption: Messages are secured with the Noise protocol, so only the sender and recipient can read them.

Efficiency: Data is compressed to save bandwidth, and the app adjusts its power use to save battery.

The app is still new, and while its private messaging system is strong, it hasn’t been fully audited by outside security experts yet.

Criticisms and Concerns...

Bitchat has gotten plenty of attention for its bold approach, but it hasn’t been without criticism.

When the beta launched earlier this month, Dorsey promoted it as a secure and private messaging tool. Soon after, security researcher Alex Radocea published a blog post pointing out a serious flaw: it’s currently easy to impersonate other people inside Bitchat.

“In cryptography, details matter,” Radocea wrote. “A protocol that has the right vibes can have fundamental substance flaws that compromise everything it claims to protect.”

Dorsey later admitted the app had not yet gone through an external security review, meaning there may still be unknown vulnerabilities.

Another concern is the app’s distribution. On iOS, Bitchat is available through the App Store. For Android, users must download it from GitHub since it hasn’t officially launched on Google Play. Unfortunately, multiple lookalike apps have already appeared on the Play Store—some with thousands of downloads—raising the risk that people may install a fake version instead of the real one.

The only legit ways to download it is the Apple App Store for iOS users, or their official GitHub for Android users. 

Should You Download It?

There's some legitimate reasons to have something capable of offline messaging for emergencies, places outside of cell reception, or places where cell towers can be overloaded like large events.  But i'd hold off on trusting it with your Bitcoin, the concerns we covered here are legitimate, and any environment where it's easy for one user to pose as another is not the place for financial transactions.  

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Author: Mark Pippen
London Newsroom
GlobalCryptoPress | Breaking Crypto News