WASHINGTON D.C. – A $2 billion cryptocurrency deal involving the United Arab Emirates adn a stablecoin, USD1, linked to the U.S.dollar, has ignited scrutiny over potential financial benefits to Donald Trump and his company, alongside the granting of a pardon to Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ). The transactions, occurring in late 2025, raise questions about the intersection of international finance, presidential pardons, and the Trump family’s business ventures.
World Liberty, the issuer of USD1, maintains a one-dollar reserve for each token. The recent $2 billion influx from the UAE deal is projected to generate tens of millions of dollars annually in interest and investment returns for the company.
Simultaneously, CZ, who served a four-month prison sentence for violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws – after Binance paid a $4 billion fine for facilitating illicit funds for entities including sanctioned Russians and al-Qaeda – sought a presidential pardon.He applied for the pardon in May 2025, shortly after the USD1 deal was finalized. On October 23, 2025, CZ posted on X, stating: “deeply grateful for today’s pardon and to President Trump for upholding America’s commitment to fairness, innovation, and justice.”
World Liberty’s legal counsel has cautioned against portraying a ”quid pro quo” between CZ and President Trump,asserting a legitimate business rationale for utilizing USD1 in the Binance stake sale. They also deny reports that Binance requested the payment be made in USD1, citing a statement from Emirati officials indicating their independent selection of the cryptocurrency.
President Trump claimed he “had no idea who [CZ] is” and granted the pardon “at the request of a lot of good people.” This statement fuels speculation about a connection between the pardon and the $2 billion transaction.Days after the pardon,Trump authorized the UAE access to advanced AI chips,a highly sought-after U.S. technology.
The unfolding events suggest a pattern of leveraging presidential influence for financial gain. In Indonesia, work on a Trump resort has been halted by the surroundings ministry. During the October 2025 Gaza summit in Egypt, a recording captured Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto urgently requesting a meeting with Eric Trump, to which Trump responded, “I’ll have Eric call. He’s such a good boy.”
