CZ Denies WSJ Claim on Trump Family Binance Deal & Pardon

CZ Rejects WSJ Claim on Trump Family Binance Investment and Pardon Deal

A Wall Street Journal report claims Donald Trump’s family is in talks to invest in Binance US, while Changpeng “CZ” Zhao is seeking a presidential pardon. CZ, who served four months after pleading guilty to money laundering violations, denied the report, stating, “The WSJ article got the facts wrong.”

The report cites Trump ally Steve Witkoff as a negotiator in the discussions, though the White House declined to comment. Under its 2023 settlement, Binance paid a $4.3 billion fine, accepted a lifetime ban on CZ managing the company, and agreed to fully exit the U.S. market.

Binance US declined to comment, while CZ suggested the story was politically motivated, claiming, “Residual forces of the ‘war on crypto’ from the last administration are still at work.” Despite the controversy, BNB rose over 6%, reflecting market confidence in Binance’s position.

Trump, who campaigned as pro-crypto, has taken steps to support the industry, including launching a strategic Bitcoin reserve. His administration’s regulatory shift contrasts with the DOJ’s past enforcement, which led to Binance’s settlement and CZ’s conviction.

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Ripple Secures Regulatory License for Crypto Payments in UAE

Ripple has received a Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) license, making it the first blockchain provider authorized in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The approval allows Ripple to offer regulated crypto payment services in the Middle East. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse emphasized that the UAE’s regulatory clarity and financial hub status make it a key market for digital assets.

The license enables Ripple to expand its payments network, catering to businesses and financial institutions seeking faster and lower-cost cross-border transactions. DIFC CEO Arif Amiri welcomed Ripple’s expansion, citing the region’s commitment to fintech innovation. With 20% of Ripple’s global customer base already in the Middle East, this regulatory approval is more than welcomed.

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Ledger Helps Trezor Fix Security Flaw in Latest Hardware Wallet

Ledger’s security research team, Donjon, discovered a vulnerability in Trezor’s Safe 3 and Safe 5 models, allowing attackers to bypass security checks. The flaw could have made cryptographic operations on the microcontroller vulnerable, increasing risks of unauthorized access. Ledger CTO Charles Guillemet confirmed that Trezor patched the issue, ensuring user funds remain secure.

Trezor has implemented additional security layers, but acknowledged that firmware updates alone couldn’t fully resolve the vulnerability. Ledger praised the industry-wide effort to strengthen security, despite competition between hardware wallet providers. The discovery highlights ongoing challenges in securing crypto storage, especially against advanced threats.

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Trader Loses $215K in Stablecoin Swap Due to MEV Attack

A crypto trader lost $215,000 in a sandwich attack while swapping $220,764 USDC to USDT on Uniswap v3 on March 12. The attack was carried out by an MEV bot, which manipulated the liquidity pool by removing USDC before the trade and reinserting it afterward. The attacker paid a $200,000 tip to a block builder and walked away with $8,000 in direct profit.

Blockchain analysts suspect the same trader may have been hit five more times, losing additional funds. Transactions originated from Aave deposits, suggesting repeat victimization or potential laundering schemes. While Uniswap’s front-end offers MEV protection, the transactions did not originate from it, highlighting risks for users trading through alternative interfaces.

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Data of the Day

Bitcoin’s market dominance has climbed to 61.2%, reaching its highest level in months, according to Matrixport research. The increase follows a short-lived altcoin rally, which began after Trump’s election in November but fizzled by early December. Analysts attribute the shift to economic data signaling a hawkish Federal Reserve, which dampened risk appetite for smaller crypto assets.

Historically, altcoins gain traction toward the end of market cycles, but this time, capital is flowing back into Bitcoin. With Bitcoin maintaining relative strength despite a broader market downturn, investors see it as a safer store of value. Experts suggest that unless liquidity conditions improve, Bitcoin dominance could continue rising at the expense of alternative cryptocurrencies.

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More Breaking News

• Turkey’s Capital Markets Board has tightened crypto regulations, enforcing strict compliance rules for exchanges, custodians, and wallet providers.
• MoonPay has acquired stablecoin infrastructure startup Iron, boosting its enterprise payment products and expanding its global crypto payment network.
• Ethereum gas fees have dropped 95% since the Dencun upgrade, reducing swap costs from $86 last year to just $0.39 today, Etherscan data shows.
• SEC filings mentioning blockchain reached an all-time high in February, reflecting regulatory shifts under the crypto-friendly new administration.
• A new ECB study finds Europeans largely uninterested in the digital euro, citing a lack of clear benefits over existing payment options.
• An Argentine lawyer has requested an Interpol red notice for LIBRA founder Hayden Davis, whose meme coin crashed 95% after reaching a $4.4B market cap.

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