- CZ will not return to Binance as the exchange remains under extended U.S. regulatory surveillance.
- Binance faces DOJ, CFTC and FinCEN oversight despite leaving the U.S. and serving no American users.
- Political claims and pardon rumors are dismissed as Binance adapts to long-term compliance pressure.
Changpeng Zhao will not return to Binance for now, as his lawyer Teresa Goody Guillén confirmed that the exchange remains under strict U.S. oversight. She said Binance continues operating “under surveillance,” even after exiting the American market and serving no U.S. customers.
Strict Oversight and CZ’s Absence From Binance
CZ’s personal lawyer Teresa Goody Guillén said during an interview that he will not return to Binance at this time. She stated that Binance remains under oversight from the DOJ, the CFTC, and compliance monitors assigned through FinCEN. She added that every major compliance step at Binance is being reviewed by these agencies.
Goody explained that oversight continues even though Binance has fully exited the U.S. market and no longer serves American customers. She described the exchange as operating “under surveillance,” with long-term reviews still in place. She noted that this arrangement is unusual for an offshore platform without U.S. users.
Her comments followed rumors suggesting CZ might resume leadership nearly two years after stepping down in 2023. However, she confirmed that he is now focused on YZi Labs, which manages his family investments and venture activity.
Pardon Process, Political Claims, and Ongoing Pressures
Goody also discussed the presidential pardon process linked to CZ’s case. She said the review passed through the DOJ’s pardon attorney, the White House Counsel’s Office, and other agencies. She said the matter involved compliance failures rather than laundering accusations.
Questions around political connections also surfaced in the interview. Some observers claimed CZ had ties to World Liberty Financial’s USD1 token due to Binance’s early support. Goody dismissed these claims as baseless and said USD1 operates on several networks. CZ also denied any political involvement and said he met Eric Trump only once.
Goody said U.S. restrictions may weaken American influence as other countries adopt open frameworks. She explained that exchanges continue expanding abroad while strict measures push activity outside the United States. The case also created financial and operational strain for both CZ and Binance as they adapted to ongoing oversight and regulatory monitoring.
