Hours after receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump, Binance Holdings Ltd.’s billionaire co-founder Changpeng Zhao issued a thank-you message mid-flight — and signaled his renewed ambitions for the world’s largest crypto exchange.

“Deeply grateful for today’s pardon and to President Trump for upholding America’s commitment to fairness, innovation, and justice,” Zhao posted on X. “Will do everything we can to help make America the Capital of Crypto and advance web3 worldwide.”

The pardon — almost two years after Zhao pleaded guilty to failing to prevent money laundering and resigned as CEO of Binance — caps a remarkable comeback for the 48-year-old.

It also frees Zhao to refocus on the ultimate prize: reclaiming ground in the American market, now central to crypto’s institutional surge and one of the last major arenas where Binance has yet to dominate.

“The effect of a presidential pardon is rather sweeping,” said Jonathan Groth, a partner at DGIM Law. “It appears that CZ can now re-engage and be more involved with Binance and or its subsidiaries and other ventures.”